Maya has had this little problem for a while, I have had it in Maya 7 and 8.5. As Rhetoric said, use the paint selection tool for this type of selection issue, I personally use it quite a bit now its on the tool box to the left
Chris (formerly R@nSiD)
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When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will truely know peace - Jimmy Hendrix
Winner SM VFX Challenge 1
3rd Place SM SteamPunk Challenge (May 2007)