Seahawks drop road game at George Mason - WECT TV6-WECT.com:News, weather & sports Wilmington, NC

UNCW Press Release

WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Senior Amber Easter scored 17 points and added 13 rebounds to lead George Mason to a 65-53 victory over UNCW in Colonial Athletic Association women's basketball action Thursday at the Patriot Center.

The Patriots improved to 9-18 overall and 4-12 in the CAA as they swept the season series between the two programs for the first time since the 2000-01 season. The Seahawks moved to 3-23 and 2-13 as the suffered their third straight defeat.

Easter paced a potent George Mason attack that shot a season-high 46.8 percent (29-of-62) from the floor and had four players score in double figures as senior Rahneeka Saunders pitched in 14 while seniors Melissa Collier and Joyous Tharrington chipped in 12 points each. Easter's game-high 13 rebounds helped propel the Patriots to a 42-25 advantage on the glass.

Senior Karneshia Garrett paced the Seahawks with 19 points and 11 rebounds as she recorded her team-best 12th double-double of the season. Sophomore Kelva Atkins joined Garrett in double figures with 15 points while senior Tawanna Lee chipped in eight.

George Mason trailed only briefly in the contest, knocking down five of its first 10 field goal attempts to build an early 10-2 advantage before taking its largest lead of the frame, 14-5, moments later on a Tharrington jumper at the 13:34 mark.

The Patriots would hold a 25-17 lead later in the frame when a free throw by Atkins with 7:15 showing on the clock ignited a 10-2 spurt that would pull the Seahawks even at 27-all.

Mason would respond to the UNCW spurt, using a jumper from Saunders to spark an 8-2 run and build a 35-29 cushion, only to see the Seahawks use a conventional 3-point play from Atkins in the final minute to make it a 35-32 contest at the break.

The Patriots opened the second half on a 12-5 run to take its first double-digit lead of the evening, 47-37, and would take advantage of a 7-2 spurt midway through the frame to build a 54-41 cushion with 10:21 on the clock.

A 7-2 UNCW run would cut the Mason advantage to eight, 56-48, only to see the Patriots tally nine of the next 11 points to take their largest lead of the game, 65-50. A three-pointer at the buzzer by Atkins would determine the final 12-point margin.

Both teams return to action Sunday. UNCW is at Hofstra while George Mason travels to James Madison. Tip off for both games is set for 2 p.m.