March 2, 2006

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Redshirt freshman Sahsha Taylor scored 14 of her game-high 19 points in the second half and grabbed a career high 14 rebounds for her seventh double-double this season to lead UNC Wilmington to a 61-48 victory over George Mason in its final regular season game Thursday night at Trask Coliseum.

With the win, the Seahawks improved to 15-12 overall and 9-9 in the Colonial Athletic Association to secure the sixth seed in next week's CAA Tournament. UNCW will square off against 11th-seeded Northeastern barring a Georgia State upset of Old Dominion on Saturday, in which case the Seahawks will play Towson. George Mason falls to 11-16 overall and 7-11 in the league. The Patriots, who are hosting the Championships, are the eighth seed and will face ninth-seeded VCU.

Freshman guard Candace Walker added 11 points for the Seahawks, who swept the season series with the Patriots and have now won seven of the last eight meetings. Freshman forward Alex Stewart chipped in nine points with nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Lateisha Wade led Mason with 10 points.

UNCW shot just 20.7 percent in the first half, but recovered in the second by making 12-of-23 shots and visiting the free throw line 28 times to secure the victory.

After starting off the game 0-for-16 from the field, the Seahawks took a 19-11 advantage to halftime behind 10 points from Taylor and Stewart and slowly increased their advantage in the second period, leading by as much as 16, 57-41, with a minute left in the game.

UNCW dominated the glass, outrebounding the Patriots, 46-31, including a 21-10 advantage on the offensive en route to their 11th home victory this season, the most since 1986-87.