Dukes Stumble in CAA quarterfinals

LeRose, Dukes get victory over Towson in first-round

Drew Wilson / senior photographer Freshman guard Andrea Benvenuto (No. 4) drives the lane during the Dukes' CAA quarterfinal loss to George Mason University.

A day after coming from behind to edge Towson University in the first round of the women's Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, one might have thought JMU would have come up dead against George Mason University in its quarterfinal matchup.

After all, the Dukes came out performing flatly against the Tigers March 10 despite six days of rest. Yet, JMU opened its game a day later against the second-seeded Patriots with aggression and energy.

However, the quick turnaround eventually got to the Dukes. After 10 minutes, the effects of playing with only 15 hours of rest began to take its toll.

George Mason opened up its lead with a barrage of 3-pointers midway through the first half and never looked back, eliminating the Dukes, 84-67. The Patriots shot 57.6 percent from the field in the first half — including 5-of-8 shooting from the perimeter — to build a 48-31 lead at the half.

"After the 10-minute mark in the first half, it seemed like the lane got wider and wider," JMU coach Kenny Brooks said. "I don't know if it was because of fatigue or coming out less than 17 hours later and try to play another game.

"We didn't set out to just let them do what they wanted to do," he added. "They are a talented basketball team with a lot of experience — they're a very focused team."

George Mason senior guards Vernessa Neamo and Jen Derevjanik led the way for the Patriots. Neamo scored a team-high 18 points on 7-for-14 shooting, while Derevjanik added 15 points and six assists.

"We were just pumped and ready to go," Derevjanik said. "We have a lot of seniors and we came out with initiative."

The Patriots showed their initiative, outscoring the Dukes 33-16 over the final 12:54 of the first half, and allowed JMU only to come as close as 15 points late in the second half.

George Mason went on to face Old Dominion University in the CAA Tournament finals, but the Patriots lost to the Lady Monarchs, 85-81. The win gave ODU its 13th consecutive CAA title.

JMU made it to the quarterfinals matchup against George Mason after squeaking past Towson in the play-in game.

Red-shirt senior guard Jody LeRose's 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds to go lifted the Dukes to a 63-61 win over the Tigers.

Down 61-60 entering their final possession, freshman forward Lesley Dickinson penetrated down the lane and found LeRose in the corner for the eventual game-winning shot.

"I saw Jody out of my peripheral vision and I just kicked it to her," Dickinson said.

Brooks said it was a play that allowed Dickinson to create, turn the corner and penetrate. "When people back down and try to help out, she can kick it out," he said.

Towson had a final chance to tie and send the game into overtime, but Tigers guard Kacy O'Brien's shot at the buzzer hit off the side of the rim. O'Brien had given the Tigers a 1-point lead with 21 seconds left before LeRose hit her 3-pointer.

The Dukes trailed by as many as 10 points for most of the game before mounting a comeback midway through the second half. JMU took its first lead since the opening minutes of the game on a pair of free throws by Dickinson with 3:57 left in regulation.

"We came out really dead," said Dickinson, the CAA Rookie of the Year and Third Team All-CAA selection.

Freshman forward Meredith Alexis, a CAA All-Rookie Team and Third Team All-CAA selection, posted double-doubles in each contest of the tournament. Alexis' two-day rebounding total in the CAA tournament helped her break the Dukes' single-season record with 322 rebounds this season. Katherine Johnson previously held the record with 316 rebounds during the 1974-'75 season.

"It's an accomplishment," Alexis said following the game. "I like to rebound, and I'd rather get 15 rebounds than 15 points in a game because I think it helps the team out more."

In the tournament opener, Alexis grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds — one rebound shy of the CAA tournament record set last season by Old Dominion's Kim Giddens who had 20 against JMU. The mark also was the 10th highest rebound total in any CAA tournament game.

Dickinson finished with 15 points and eight rebounds against Towson, while LeRose added 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.