Dec. 29, 2006

Box Score

Miami, Fla.--Despite a career-high showing of 24 points from junior guard Lateisha Wade (Willingboro, N.J.), George Mason University (4-4) dropped a 73-59 decision to Florida International (8-3) in the opening game of the FIU Tournament at Pharmed Arena in Miami, Fla.

The Patriots opened up the contest on a 7-0 run, with the first two baskets made by junior forward Moni Akintunde (Laurel, Md.) and it was capped off with a trifecta from Wade. FIU knotted the contest at seven at about the 17 minute mark and the Patriots had their biggest lead of the game at 13:14 after Wade netted a 2-pointer to put the score at 15-10. The Panthers ended the first half with a six-point advantage, 38-32.

With just under four minutes remaining in the game, junior guard Casey Quigley (Springfield, Va.) ended Mason's seven minute scoring drought to put the score at 72-48, in favor of the Panthers. The Patriots went on an 11-2 scoring run in the final three minutes of the game, eight of which came from senior forward Tracy Ann Holness (Brooklyn, N.Y.), but FIU came out ahead in the end, 73-59.

Holness ended the game with a team second-best 10 points, while junior forward Whitney Ward (Columbia, Md.) pulled down a team-high six caroms, which is a new career-high.

Senior center Lasma Jekabsone led FIU with 23 points and also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds, while junior guard LaQuetta Ferguson and sophomore forward Marquita Adley also scored in double figures with 14 and 15, respectively.

Mason shot 23-of-63 (37 percent) in the 40 minutes, while FIU was 51 percent from the field (26-of-51). The Panthers outrebounded the Patriots, 39-32, and Mason had a slight advantage in the steals category, 11-10.

The Patriots will return to action when they face the winner of the Kansas State/Rice game tomorrow in the consolation game of the FIU Tournament on Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Pharmed Arena.