Nov. 30, 2005

Box Score

CORAL GABLES, Fla. - Three players scored in double figures to help lead George Mason University's women's basketball team to a 68-61 victory over Atlantic Coast Conference member school, Miami, Wednesday evening at the BankUnited Center.

This marks just the second meeting between these schools and the second-straight year in which the Patriots have defeated the Hurricanes.

The Patriots (3-2) held the Hurricanes (3-1) to just 36.7 shooting from the field, including just 16.7 percent from behind the three point line - both UM season lows - to give Miami their first loss of the season.

Mason capitalized on Miami's early shooting difficulties to jump out to an early eight-point lead after the Hurricanes missed seven of their first nine shots.

The Mason lead would extend to as much as 14 at 26-12 with about eight and a half minutes remaining in the first half.

Junior guard Renee Taylor, who finished with 11 points on the night, cut the Mason lead to two at 27-25 with 3:11 left in the first half, but the Patriots bounced back to eventually take an eight-point, 35-27 advantage into the half.

At about the six minute mark, senior forward Tamara James pushed the Hurricanes ahead 54-53 on a wide open lay-up. The lead would mark UM's first since the 17:52 mark in the first half.

George Mason's Moni Akintunde recaptured the lead for the Patriots at 55-54 with 5:30 showing on a pair of free throws. That lead would last for nearly two minutes before UM junior center Amy Audibert put the Hurricanes ahead 56-55 with 3:35 remaining.

The Patriot's Akintude scored on a lay-up with 3:11 left to play, giving the Patriots a 57-56 lead and Mason did not trail for the remainder of the game.

Sophomore guard Keyhana Wakefield (Albany, N.Y.) and junior forward Tracy Ann Holness (Brooklyn, N.Y.) each netted 14 points on the night followed by Akintude's 12 points.

The Patriots will return to action when they open up CAA play at home with a 2 p.m. match-up against Delaware.