Nov. 19, 2004

George Mason (0-0)
vs. Tulane (0-0)
Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004; 2 p.m.
Fairfax, Va.
Patriot Center

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Open Sesame Mason holds an 11-20 mark in its season openers and a 20-11 overall record in its first home contest since the start of Patriot women's basketball (1973-74)

Last year, Mason dropped a 72-63 decision in its season opener at the Patriot Center against Georgetown on Nov. 26. Vernessa Neamo amassed a game-high 22 points, while Jen Derevjanik dished out a game-best five assists for the Patriots.

Series Record Mason and Tulane have only squared-off once in history and the Patriots defeated the Green Wave, 61-60, on Nov. 29 in New Orleans, La. last season. Derevjanik led the Patriots as she notched a double-double with team-highs in points and rebounds with 18 and 10, respectively.

Last Season vs. Tulane

George Mason's women's basketball team notched its first victory last season with a 61-60 win over Tulane on Nov. 29, 2003 at Fogelman Arena in New Orleans, La.

The Green Wave led by as many as nine in the second half, holding a 48-39 lead with 12:20 left in the game. But the Tulane offense went ice cold, as George Mason erased the deficit with a 13-2 run to claim a 52-50 lead with 7:26 left. Tulane answered with a lay-up from Lakethia Hampton to knot the score at 52-52, but Mason scored five unanswered points to build a 57-52 cushion with 4:14 left.

Tiffany Wilson connected on two free throws to bring Tulane to within three with 25 seconds left, but Derevjanik hit one of two from the charity stripe to give Mason a 61-57 lead with 23 seconds. On Tulane's ensuing possession, Nadeau drilled a long three-pointer to get the Wave to within one and Tulane fouled Neamo. Neamo missed her first free throw attempt, and then was called for a lane violation on her second, giving Tulane one last shot at a win. But Delacey Joseph's three-pointer at the buzzer was short, sending George Mason out one-point winners.

The Green Wave connected on 43.8 percent of its shots (14-of-32) in the first half to race out to a 37-29 lead at the break. However, Tulane managed only 9-of-41 shooting in the second frame (22.0 percent). The Wave also struggled from behind the three-point line, hitting just 5-of-25 attempts from behind the arc (20.0 percent). Mason, in comparison, was 9-of-19 from behind the three-point line. Tulane did hold a 45-43 edge in rebounds, and pulled down 24 offensive caroms.

Six Return Only six players return from Mason's 2003-04 squad in Julie Flanders (Sr.), Lauren Hediger (Sr.), Jen Daniels (Jr.), Kristin Higy (So.), Tracy Holeness (So.) and Ashley York (So.).

Flanders is the Patriots only returning starter as she played in 26 contests, 22 of which she started and she averaged 4.0 rebounds per game. Hediger is Mason's returning scorer as she averaged 5.7 points per contest last season, while Daniels dished out an average of 1.5 helpers per game.

New Faces in the Crowd Mason adds six true freshmen to this year's roster in Moni Akintunde (F; Laurel, Md./Laurel), Erika Hussa (C; Burke, Va./Robinson), Casey Quigley (G; Springfield, Va./Lake Braddock), Jessica Smith (F; Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth), Keyhana Wakefield (G; Albany, N.Y./Colonie) and Whitney Ward (F; Columbia, Md./Long Reach). The Patriots also have one redshirt freshman, guard A.J. Farrar.

Where'd they pick `em? With the return of only one starter and six letterwinners, Mason was chosen seventh in the Colonial Athletic Association's Preseason Poll, which was voted on by members of the media and the league's sports information directors.

Playing Professionally Former Mason standout Jen Derevjanik became just the second Patriot to play in the WNBA as she was on the Connecticut Sun's roster for the 2004 season, which made it to the 2004 WNBA Finals. Another senior from last year's team also extended her playing career as Osato Edobor-Osula played with Germany this past summer.

Top-40 With a non-conference schedule that includes Miami, Penn State and three-time defending National Champion UConn, Mason is ranked 36th in the WBCA/Summerville Preseason Strength of Schedule Rankings for its non-conference schedule and stands 92nd in the overall schedule category.

New Addition Another new face on Mason's bench this season is Kristeena Alexander who is a new assistant that head coach Debbie Taneyhill hired this past summer. Alexander played for Mason for a season (1996-97) before transferring to George Washington. As a Patriot, Alexander set a school record for free throws made in a game and free throws attempted in a contest, going 20-for-20, which was also an NCAA record for that season.

They Will be Missed Six seniors graduated last season, three of which were starters for Mason during the 2003-04 campaign. Derevjanik, a 2004 All-CAA First Team pick, led the Patriots in scoring with 17.1 ppg and closed out her career third in Mason's record books in scoring (1,637). Neamo, a 2004 All-CAA Defensive Team honoree, graduated as Mason's all-time steal leader with 256 take-aways, while Susan Otim started 28 games last season and stands 11th in 3-point FG's made in Mason's history books with 57.

Home Cookin' Mason's women's basketball team started playing all of its home games at the Patriot Center during the 1994-95 season. Since that time, the Patriots have posted a regular season record of 79-46 (.632) when competing at the Patriot Center.