Jan. 29, 2006
Box Score
HEMPSTEAD, New York - Junior guard Cigi McCollin (Long Island City, NY) scored 10 points, including the 1,000th of her career, but it was not enough as George Mason earned a hard-fought victory over Hofstra with a 67-65 overtime win Sunday afternoon at Hofstra Arena.
Both teams used huge runs in the contest, as the Patriots had a 17-3 first half run to take the double digit lead and Hofstra rallied in the contest by using a 17-2 second half spurt.
The two teams combined for only 10 points in the extra session, as both teams hit their only field goals in the opening minute and a half of the extra time. With 1:51 left in overtime sophomore guard India Ali (Lithonia, GA) gave Hofstra a one-point lead with two free throws, but Jen Daniels would give the Patriots the lead for good with a pair of free throws with just 43 seconds remaining. Tracy Ann Holness, who led George Mason with 16 points and career-highs of six steals and five blocks, added another free throw with nine seconds left for the final margin. The Pride had one final opportunity to tie or take the lead, but a three-point attempt from McCollin with three seconds left in overtime was blocked by Holness.
The game came on "Girl Scout Day" and a season-high 2,428 fans were in attendance for the special day.
Junior center Vanessa Gidden (Stamford, CT) posted team-highs of 13 points and 12 rebounds for Hofstra, which dropped its second straight and fell to 11-7 overall and 6-3 in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) action. George Mason ended a three-game losing skid and improved to 6-12 and 2-7 in conference play with the win.
McCollin's milestone point came with 9:36 left in the second half when she nailed a three-pointer from the right side that got Hofstra within two, 51-39, at the time. McCollin becomes the 17th member of the 1,000-Point Club at Hofstra and is the first since Kimberley Coke tallied her 1,000th in a 85-81 road win over William & Mary on January 20, 2002. Coke finished her career with 1,152 points and ranks 11th on the all-time scoring list.
Hofstra would find themselves in a 10-point halftime hole as George Mason shot nearly 50% (13-27) from the field, including 5-11 from beyond the arc. The 40 points by a Hofstra opponent marked a first half high against the Pride this season. Hofstra took an early six-point lead in the contest, as they led 12-6 following a McCollin three-pointer at the 16:01 mark. With Hofstra up 19-18 with 10:42 left before intermission, George Mason used a 17-3 spanning 5:55 to take a 35-22 advantage with 4:28 remaining in the first half. Tracy Ann Holness was huge for the Patriots in the first 20 minutes as she led with 11 first half points and added six steals and three blocks.
The second half was a different story after Casey Quigley gave the Patriots a 15-point advantage (51-36) with a three-pointer at the 12:52 mark. Aided by six points from Gidden, the Pride would put together a 17-2 run following the Quigley basket until 5:26 remained in the second half. Gidden would later give Hofstra a two-point lead with a pair of free throws with 36 seconds left, but George Mason's Moni Akintunde tied the game and sent it into overtime with a basket with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
Senior forward Amaka Agugua (Herndon, VA) added 10 points and six rebounds for Hofstra, which also got nine points, nine rebounds and a game-high four assists from junior forward Lizanne Murphy (Beaconfield, Quebec, Canada).
Holness led five players in double figures for the Patriots, who also got 12 points, a game-high 15 rebounds and three assists from Akintunde. The 15 rebounds tied a career-high for Akintunde. Lateisha Wade added 11 points, eight rebounds, three steals and two assists for George Mason.
Hofstra returns to action next Friday, February 3 when they travel to The College of William & Mary for a 7 p.m. tip-off. The roadtrip will continue on Sunday, February 5 as the Pride will take on UNC Wilmington on Sunday Bowl Sunday at 2 p.m.
