Feb. 6, 2005

Box Score

HARRISONBURG, Va.- James Madison converted six of 10 free-throw attempts in the final minute and held on for a 56-52 win over George Mason in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball Sunday afternoon at the JMU Convocation Center.

The Dukes improved to 12-8 overall and 5-6 in the CAA, while George Mason is now 8-12 overall and 4-7 in league play. It was the fourth straight loss for the Patriots, while JMU ended a two-game losing streak.

JMU freshman Tamera Young (Wilmington, N.C./Laney) scored a career-high 22 points and connected on four of six foul shots in the final 35 seconds.

The game was close throughout, with JMU's biggest lead seven points (13-6 at 14:01) and Mason's largest three points (17-14 at 7:55).

JMU led 27-23 at halftime, and in the second period the Dukes led by no more than six points (35-29 at 15:17).

Trailing by five (41-36 at 11:44), Mason ran off five straight points to tie the game at 41-41 at 9:59. But the Dukes outscored Mason 7-2 to regain the five-point lead, 48-43 at 6:58.

Then Mason went on a 7-2 run in which it held JMU scoreless for more than five minutes. That enabled the Patriots to tie the game at 50-50 on a three-pointer by junior Jen Daniels (Brigantine, N.J./Holy Spirit) with 1:13 to play.

But the rest of the way JMU scored six points on free throws while Mason scored only two points, a jumper by freshman Moni Akintunde (Laurel, Md./Lauren) with 13 seconds left. In the final 36 seconds the Patriots turned the ball over twice and had only one other field-goal attempt, a jump shot by senior Julie Flanders (St. Thomas, V.I./Charlotte Amalie) that fell short with 16 seconds on the clock.

JMU sophomore Meredith Alexis (Hanover Township, Pa./Bishop Hoban) scored 11 points and had a team-high eight rebounds, and sophomore Shirley McCall (Collinsville, Va./Bassett) added 10 points.

Akintunde finished with a team-high 18 points and a personal-best 14 rebounds, while Daniels scored 12 points and Flanders finished with 10 points.