November 30, 2003

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Virginia Tech used a 7-0 run at the end of the game and a career night from Carrie Mason to defeat Mississippi State 63-56 in the championship game of the University of the Virgin Islands Paradise Jam played at the Sport and Fitness Center on the UVI campus.

Tech (4-0), ranked No. 24 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, saw a 10-point lead evaporate late in the game but managed to hit free throws down the stretch to claim the title. With the score tied at 56, Erin Gibson (Jr., Galax, Va.) put back a miss of her own shot and was fouled with :32 seconds left in the game. Gibson could not convert the three-point play but Dawn Chriss (So., Hillcrest Heights, Md.) grabbed the offensive rebound and passed out to Mason (So., Seneca, Pa.) who was fouled. Mason converted two free throws with :23 remaining to put Tech up 60-56. The Lady Bulldogs Tan White turned the ball over and Ieva Kublina (Sr., Riga, Latvia) sank one of two free throws to increase the advantage to five with only thirteen ticks remaining on the clock. White missed a trey and Mason iced the game with two more free throws.

Mason, the tournament Most Valuable Player, tied her career-high with 24 points including three treys and was 7-of-7 at the charity stripe. Kublina, named to the All-tournament team, added 17 points and three blocks. The game marked the 64^th game in which Kublina has reached double-figure scoring and the 34^th time she has been credited with three or more blocks. Gibson added eight points and 11 boards in the victory.

Seneca Anderson led Mississippi State (1-2) with 15 points followed by Tiania Burns with 11.

The Hokies shot 47.1 percent (24-51) from the field and were 12-of-16 at the free throw line which they needed to overcome a season-high 23 turnovers. Tech outrebouned the Lady Bulldogs 39-28 and dominated in the paint outscoring MSU 38-24. The win improved Tech's record to 48-3 over the past four seasons when holding an opponent to 60 or less points.

Tech is 4-0 on the year for only the third time in the program's history with the 1981-82 and 1998-99 teams also opening the season with the quick start. The Hokies defense blocked four MSU shots giving Tech 24 in the first four games of the season. Kublina's three blocks gives her 194 leaving the Hokie forward only ten shy of the all-time Tech career mark.

The Hokies return to action on Wed., Dec. 3 against Old Dominion in a 7 p.m. contest in Cassell Coliseum.