Dec. 26, 2004

George Mason (4-3) vs. #8 Connecticut (5-2)
Hartford, Conn. (Hartford Civic Center)
December 27, 2004; 7 p.m.

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Series Record Three-time defending NCAA National Champions, Connecticut, leads the overall series between George Mason, 1-0. The only time these two teams met was on Dec. 28, 1989 in Connecticut where the Huskies walked away with a 74-60 victory.

Last Time on the Court Senior guard Lauren Hediger netted a season-high 15 points after shooting 3-5 from beyond the arc to help lead George Mason University's women's basketball team to a 75-51 victory over Longwood on Dec. 21 at the Patriot Center.

Guard Tracy Ann Holness (So.) poured in a game second-best 13 points, while freshman forward Moni Akintunde (Laurel, Md.) came off the bench to add 12 points for the Patriots after shooting 5-8 from the field. Junior guard Jen Daniels (Brigantine, N.J.) collected double digit points as well as she scored 10 and added three steals in 25 minutes of play. This marks the sixth-straight game in which at least three Patriots have scored in double figures.

Senior center Marita Meldere collected a double-double as she pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds and also added 11 points for Longwood. Junior forward Ashley Mason led all scorers as she netted 16 and also dished out three assists for the Lancers.

The Patriots shot 40 percent (26-64) on the night, while the Lancers garnered a shooting percentage of 35 (20-57). Mason scored 34 points in the paint to Longwood's 26, while the Lancers edged the Patriots on the boards, 44-41. The Patriots were able to capitalize on the Lancer's 29 turnovers as Mason collected 21 points from Longwood's giveaways.

Mason vs. BIG EAST Heading into tonight's match-up, Mason holds a 1-0 record over BIG EAST teams thus far this season. The Patriots defeated Georgetown in Washington, D.C. by a score of 70-62 on Dec. 8.

Against Top-25 Since the start of George Mason women's basketball (1983-84), the Patriots are 1-9 when playing against a ranked opponent. Mason's first contest against a team in the top-25 was on Dec. 21, 1998 where the Patriots dropped a 66-57 to No. 17 Virginia Tech in Fairfax, Va.

Not That Long Ago... The last time Mason faced a team in the top-25 was on Dec. 20, 2002 and the Patriots went on to defeat #21 George Washington by a score of 63-57 on the Colonials home court. There are three players on Mason's current roster that were at that game in a Patriot uniform: Julie Flanders, Lauren Hediger and Jen Daniels.

Setting New Highs Senior guard Lauren Hediger poured in a season-high 15 points against Longwood on Dec. 21 and was just two points shy of matching her personal-best of 17.

200th Game The contest against UConn on Dec. 27 marks Debbie Taneyhill's 200th game as Mason's women's basketball head coach.

December Finale George Mason is 12-9 overall in the last game of December since 1983-84. Last season the Patriots claimed a 68-59 overtime win against St. Joseph's at the Hawk Classic on Dec. 29 to close out 2003.

Helping Out Freshman guard Keyhana Wakefield dished out a personal-best and a game-high six assists against Longwood on Dec. 21.

Can't Get Enough Sophomore forward Tracy Ann Holness has now scored in double figures five times, out of seven games, with her most recent against Longwood as she poured in a team second-best 13 points.

On the road, Again Mason had a brief stint at home, but returns to the road for the Patriots' longest non-conferece road game of the season. Mason will travel approximately 370 miles from Fairfax to Hartford, Conn.

Six-Straight In five out of the six games, at least three Patriots have scored in double figures. Fourteen times starters have notched double digits, while six Patriots off the bench have netted double figures in the last six contests.

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.

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 stood 92nd in the overall schedule category.

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.

Home Cookin' Mason's women's hoops team started playing all of its home games at the Patriot Center since the 1994-95 season. Since then, the Patriots have posted a regular season record of 81-47 (.633) when competing at the PC.