Second-Half Run Leads Mason Past UNCW

Courtesy: UNCW Athletic Communications
Release: 02/14/2013

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Courtesy: Joe Browning

Junior Jessica Freeman defends the basket during Thursday's game at Trask Coliseum

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Senior Joyous Tharrington poured in a career-high 18 points and added nine rebounds to lead George Mason to a 62-52 victory over UNCW in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action Thursday at Trask Coliseum.

The Patriots improved to 8-14 overall and 3-8 in CAA play as they won their second straight contest. The Seahawks, meanwhile, moved to 2-20 and 1-10 with the setback.

Tharrington was one of three Patriots players to reach double figures as junior Janaa Pickard pitched 14 and senior Amber Easter pitched in 12.

Senior Karneshia Garrett scored 15 points and added a career-high 19 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season to lead UNCW. Junior Jessica Freeman joined Garrett in double figures with 14 points and added eight rebounds while sophomore Kelva Atkins pitched in nine points and six boards.

Following a tight first half that saw a total of seven ties and 10 lead changes and neither team lead by more than four points, GMU held a 42-37 advantage when a free throw by senior Melissa Collier sparked an 11-2 spurt that gave Mason its first double-digit lead of the game, 53-39, with 6:32 remaining.

The Seahawks would battle back, scoring nine of the next 11 points to make it a 55-48 contest with 3:13 remaining.

The Patriots would keep the Seahawks from getting any closer, however, tallying five of the next seven points to determine the 10-point margin of victory.

Both teams return to action Sunday. UNCW hosts Georgia State at 1 p.m. while George Mason entertains Towson in a 5 p.m. tip.

GAME NOTES:

George Mason extended its lead in the all-time series to 34-28 as it snapped a three-game losing skid to the Seahawks. The win was just the third victory for the Patriots in the last 21 meetings between the two sides.
UNCW held a 46-37 advantage on the glass as it out-rebounded its opponent for just the fifth time this season. The Seahawks finished with a season-high 24 offensive rebounds, surpassing the previous season-high of 16 set on two previous occasions (Wake Forest and North Carolina A&T).
The two teams combined for just 23 turnovers in the contest (UNCW 15, George Mason 8). The Patriots became the second straight opponent and just the seventh team this season to record fewer than double-digit turnovers against the Seahawks.
George Mason posted an 18-9 edge in points off turnovers, highlighted by a 14-7 advantage in the second half.
UNCW moved to 1-6 this season and 68-23 since the start of the 2007-08 season when holding a halftime lead. Four of the Seahawks six losses under such circumstances this season have come in games in which they have held only a one-possession lead.
The Seahawks dished out double-figure assists for the 14th time this season and the seventh time in eight games as it finished with 10 assists.
UNCW shot below 40 percent from the floor for the 16th time this season as it was just 21-of-64 (.328) from the field against the Patriots.
George Mason shot 40.7 percent (24-of-59) from the field against the Seahawks, becoming the just the ninth opponent this season to shoot better than 40 percent from the floor against UNCW.
The Seahawks moved to 1-14 this season when an opponent takes a lead of 10 points or more against them in a contest.
George Mason was 0-for-6 from three-point range, becoming the first UNCW opponent in 27 games to not make a 3-point field goal against the Seahawks (March 8, 2012 versus Georgia State).

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

24 - Jessica Freeman

Reached double figures in points for the 11th time this season and the 32nd time in her career.
Matched her career high with eight rebounds, equaling her total against Georgia State on Feb. 17, 2011.

40 - Karneshia Garrett

Reached double figures in points for the 12th time this season and the 27th time in her career.
Pulled down double figure rebounds for the 12th time this season the 20th time in her career.
Recorded her ninth double-double of the season and the 16th of her career.
Led team in scoring for the eighth time this season and the 14th time of her career.
Paced team in rebounding for the 16th time this season and the 34th time in her career.
Established a new career-high in rebounds, surpassing her previous career-high of 18 set on two occasions this season (Wake Forest & North Carolina Central).

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