April 24, 2003

FAIRFAX, Va. - George Mason is ranked nationally in the latest NCAA women's lacrosse statistics released Wednesday. Statistics are based on games played through Sunday, April 20.

The Patriots, who lead the Colonial Athletic Association in caused turnovers, are ranked third nationally in that category, averaging 14.86 per game behind fifth-ranked Georgetown (16.54), and No. 1 Loyola (16.77).

Individually, senior defender Paula Priest (Kingsville, MD/Fallston), who missed three games this season due to a knee injury, has returned to form and is fifth in the nation with 3.00 caused turnovers per game, ranking first in the CAA. Freshman defender Katie Linnertz (Syracuse, NY/Cicero North Syracuse), who is second in the CAA in caused turnovers per game at 2.57, is listed eighth nationally in that category. Sophomore goalkeeper Meg Dentler (Crofton, MD/Arundel) is rated 10th in the nation and leads the CAA in save percentage (.566).

Offensively, senior All-American attacker Jill Toomey (Annapolis, MD/Broadneck) is ninth in the nation in points, averaging 4.00 per game, and seventh nationally in goals per outing (3.21). Sophomore attacker Kristy Manas (Harwood, MD/Southern) is listed No. 6 nationally with 1.79 assists per contest.

George Mason (7-7, 4-3 CAA), which makes its 10th straight CAA Tournament appearance this weekend, enters the championships as the #3 seed after finishing in a three-way tie for third-place in the league standings. The Patriots will take on eighth-ranked and #2-seed James Madison (11-5, 6-1 CAA) Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Norfolk in the second CAA semifinal contest. Old Dominion, the No. 1 seed and host of this year's tournament, battles fourth-seeded Hofstra Saturday at noon. The CAA Championship is slated for Sunday at noon.