March 8, 2002
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Regulation-time hero Okiesha Howard hit a 3-pointer with1:01 remaining in overtime, and No. 15 Old Dominion beat George Mason 68-63Friday night in the semifinals of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.
The Lady Monarchs (24-5), who have never lost in 32 CAA tournament games,needed 4-for-4 free-throw shooting in the last 48 seconds of regulation to tieit at 56. Sharron Francis hit the first two, and Howard hit the tying two with10 seconds to play.
George Mason (17-14) also erased a seven-point deficit in the overtime witha 7-0 run, but Howard's fourth 3-pointer of the game gave Old Dominion the leadfor good.
Howard led the Lady Monarchs with 18 points, Lucienne Berthieu had 13 and 10rebounds, Monique Coker scored 12 and Hamchetou Maiga had 11 points and 10rebounds. Old Dominion will play for its 11th consecutive CAA title on Saturdayagainst North Carolina-Wilmington, which beat Delaware 65-60 in the firstsemifinal.
The Patriots were led by Jen Derevjanik with 19 points, 14 coming in thesecond half and overtime, and Vernessa Neamo with 17. Neamo scored 14 in thefirst half.
The Patriots led 56-52 after Shelbylynn McBride's free throw with 2:10remaining in regulation. But George Mason didn't score again, and Francis andHoward converted their free throws before a stunned crowd of 2,287 at the OldDominion Fieldhouse.
The gymnasium, which will be replaced as Old Dominion's home court when anew arena opens next season, will host its final NCAA basketball game onSaturday unless the Lady Monarchs are award first- and second-round home gamesby the NCAA.