Dec. 1, 2004

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Another First This is the first meeting between the George Mason Patriots and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Eight is Great! The Patriots held Miami to just eight points in the first half on Nov. 30, which is tied for second in the NCAA Division I record books for fewest points scored by one team in a single half. Florida State set the standard as the Seminoles led Savannah State by a score of 54-3 at the break on Nov. 23, 2003. The last known team to score only eight points in the first 20 minutes was Liberty against Radford on Jan. 27, 2001 as the Highlanders were ahead 14-8 at the half.

Last Time on the Court Three Patriots scored in double figures and senior center Julie Flanders pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds to help lead George Mason to a 60-35 win over the University of Miami Nov. 30 at the Patriot Center in a non-conference match-up.

The Patriots were on fire the first half as Mason held Miami scoreless for the first nine and a half minutes of play and only allowed the Hurricanes to score eight points in the entire first stanza. Flanders pulled down 10 boards in the first 20 minutes of play, while junior guard Jen Daniels led the Patriots with eight points after shooting 2-4 from beyond the arc. Mason went into the break ahead, 27-8.

Miami opened up the second half on a 5-0 run to pull within 14 points of Mason, but that was the closest the Hurricanes would get to the Patriots the entire game. Mason's largest lead of the contest came with about four minutes remaining as sophomore guard Tracy Ann Holness made a lay-up after Daniels grabbed one of her four rebounds of the evening to feed it to Holness to put the score at 48-22. The Patriots made 11 of 13 free throws down the stretch to solidify Mason's first win of the season.

Holness led her teammates with 16 points and was perfect from the line (6-6), while Daniels netted a team second-best 12 points and also did not miss from the charity stripe (4-4). Freshman guard Keyhana Wakefield came off the bench to pour in 11 points and added two helpers, along with two steals, while sophomore forward Kristin Higy grabbed a team second-best eight boards.

The Patriots outrebounded its opponent for the first time this season as Mason pulled down 44 to Miami's 37 and the Patriots were almost perfect from the line as they shot 90 percent (18-20) on the night. Mason shot 18-57 from the field (32 percent), while Miami was held to just 13 field goals (13-52).

Rebounds A Plenty Mason outrebounded its opponent on Nov. 30 as the Patriots grabbed 44 total rebounds to Miami's 37.

Nearly a Decade Ago The last time the Patriots held their opponent to just 35 points was on Feb. 11, 1994 when Mason claimed a 66-35 victory over UNC Wilmington in Fairfax. Current assistant coach Marcell Harrison played in this game and netted a team third-best 11 points.

December Openers Since 1977-78, George Mason is 16-11 overall in its first game in December with the last win coming over Howard on Dec. 4, 2003 where the Patriots claimed an 85-63 victory. When playing the first game of the 12th month on the road, Mason holds a record of 4-7.

Almost Perfect George Mason shot 18-20 (90 percent) from the charity stripe against Miami on Nov. 30.

Setting a New High Senior center Julie Flanders topped her career-high in rebounds as the Virgin Islands native pulled down a personal best and a game-high 14 boards against the Hurricanes.

"Put Me In coach..." Freshman guard Keyhana Wakefield came off the bench Tuesday night to net a team third-best 11 points for her first double-digit scoring game of her collegiate career. Wakefield also added two assists and two steals in 23 minutes of play.

Not One, But Two Both junior Melissa McGruder and freshman Casey Quigley netted their first collegiate basket in the 25-point win over the Hurricanes. McGruder netted a 2-pointer, while Quigley canned a trey and also added one free throw to finish with four points.

Movin' On Up Hediger needs two more 3-point field goals to move pass Toni Battle for ninth place in Mason's career record books. Hediger currently has netted 69 in her career with Mason, while Battle graduated with 70 treys to her name.

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 was ranked 36th in the WBCA/Summerville Preseason Strength of Schedule Rankings for its non-conference schedule and stands 92nd in the overall schedule category.

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 80-47 (.630) when competing at the Patriot Center.

Playing Host For the first time in school history, George Mason will host the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament which will be held from Mar. 9-12 at the Patriot Center. For the past five years, the tournament has been held in Norfolk, Va. and the closest it has been to Fairfax is when American hosted in 1987.