Hurricanes Come Up Short Against George Mason
Nov. 30, 2005
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Despite a game-high 24-point outing by senior forward Tamara James, the University of Miami women’s basketball could not overcome an early first-half deficit to fall to George Mason, 68-61, Wednesday night at the BankUnited Center.
The Patriots (3-2) held the Hurricanes (3-1) to just 36.7 shooting from the field, including just 16.7 percent from behind the three point line – both UM season lows – to give Miami and first-year head coach Katie Meier their first loss of the season.
Missing seven of their first nine shots, GMU capitalizing on Miami’s early shooting difficulties to jump out to an early eight-point lead.
The George Mason lead would extend to as much as 14 at 26-12 with eight-and-a-half minutes remaining until James sparked a 13-1 UM run following a free throw after a made basket on a Patriot foul.
Junior guard Renee Taylor, who finished with 11 points on the night, cut the GMU lead to two at 27-25 with 3:11 left in the first half, but the Patriots bounced back to eventually take an eight-point, 35-27 lead into the half.
Miami chipped away at the GMU lead as the two teams traded baskets deep into the second half. James once again led the Hurricane comeback, cutting the Patriot lead to one at 53-52 on a pair of free throws with 6:23 left to play.
Just over 20 seconds later, the National Player of the Year candidate pushed the Hurricanes ahead 54-53 on a wide open lay-up in transition following a George Mason miss. The lead would mark UM’s first since the 17:52 mark in the first half.
George Mason’s Moni Akintunde recaptured the lead for the Patriots at 55-54 with 5:30 showing on a pair of free throws. That lead would last for nearly two minutes before UM junior center Amy Audibert put the Hurricanes ahead 56-55 with 3:35 remaining.
GMU’s Akintude scored on a lay-up with 3:11 left to play, giving the Patriots a 57-56 lead and George Mason would not trail for the remainder of the game.
James, who also recorded four steals, and freshman center Brittany Denson both recorded a team-high seven rebounds for the Hurricanes. Denson also finished with 11 points in just her third game.
George Mason’s Keyhana Wakefield and Tracy Ann Holness each scored 14 points on the night followed by Akintude’s 12 points.
The Hurricanes return to action Friday, hosting Fairleigh Dickinson at 7 p.m. at the BankUnited Center.
