Dec. 31, 2004

George Mason (4-4, 0-0 CAA) vs. Towson (7-4, 0-0)
January 2, 2005; 2 p.m.
Towson Center (Towson, Md.)

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Series Record George Mason holds a 12-0 advantage in the overall series between the Tigers of Towson. The first time these two teams met was on Dec. 9, 1982 and Mason edged Towson, 68-66. Last season the Patriots opened up conference play at home against Towson on Jan. 4 and won by a score of 65-51. On Feb. 22, 2004 these two teams met again and during this game Vernessa Neamo became Mason's all-time career steal leader and head coach Debbie Taneyhill garnered her 100th career win with a 64-52 victory over the Tigers.

Last Time on the Court

George Mason University's women's basketball team fell to #11 Connecticut by a score of 76-44 on Dec. 27 at the Harford Civic Center in Hartford, Conn.

Junior guard Jen Daniels led all scorers with 16 points after shooting 4-7 on the night and also added a career-high five steals in the loss. Senior guard Lauren Hediger also netted double figures as she scored 13 for the Patriots in a career-high 35 minutes of play.

The Huskies had four players score in double digits, two of which came off the bench for UConn. Forward Barbara Turner led the Huskies with 14 points, while Charde Houston followed with 13.

UConn garnered a field goal percentage of 47 percent (29-61), while the Patriots shot just 25 percent (13-51) on the night. The Huskies outrebounded Mason, 46-29, and also dished out more assists with 23 to the Patriots' seven.

Open Sesame Since its first year in the Colonial Athletic Association (1985-86), Mason is 10-9 overall in its conference openers, including a 5-4 mark when opening on the road. The last time the Patriots played their first league contest of the season on the road, Mason dropped a 62-49 decision to UNC Wilmington on Dec. 28, 2001.

Stealing A New High Junior guard Jen Daniels tallied a new career-high in steals with five against #11 Connecticut on Dec. 27 in Hartford, Conn.

For the Record The Patriots head into the game against Towson with a 2-3 record on the road thus far this season. The last contest Mason won away from Fairfax was on Dec. 11 when the Patriots claimed a decisive 71-52 over Mount St. Mary's.

One More To Go George Mason has one more road game until a four game homestand as the Patriots have played four out of the past five games away from the Patriot Center.

Towson's Numbers The Tigers head into today's contest with a 7-4 overall record, which includes a 3-1 mark when playing at the Towson Center. Towson is 2-3 in its last five games and in its last contest, the Tigers claimed a 60-43 win over UMBC at home on Dec. 28. Kelli Talbot leads Towson with 12.4 points per game, while Tiera Jackson leads her teammates with 8.8 rebounds per game.

Hello, January! Since its first season competing at the Division I level (1982-83), Mason is 7-6 all-time when playing its first game in January on the road and is 10-12 overall in January openers. The last time the Patriots opened the new year on the road was on Jan. 2, 2002 and Mason fell to Seton Hall in New Jersey by a score of 57-49.

Familiar Foe George Mason and Towson have one familiar non-conference opponent this season in Mount St. Mary's. The Tigers fell to The Mount, 64-57, on Nov. 28 in Towson, Md., while the Patriots defeated MSM, 71-52, in Emmitsburg, Md. on Dec. 11.

Movin' On Up Senior guard Lauren Hediger recently moved up to ninth in Mason's career record books for 3-point field goals made and is now just three away from tying Jill Bartley for eighth place. Bartley played for Mason from 1996-2000 and graduated with 85 treys to her name, while Hediger has 82 heading into the Towson match-up.

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 80-47 (.630) when competing at the PC.