Jan. 4, 2006

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George Mason (4-6) vs. James Madison (9-1)
Fairfax, Va. (Patriot Center)
Jan. 6, 2006; 7 p.m.

Fairfax, Va.--George Mason University's women's basketball team will play in its second Colonial Athletic Association game of the 2005-06 season as the Patriots host James Madison on Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. Mason heads into the match-up with an overall record of 4-6 (0-1 CAA), while the Dukes are 9-1 overall (1-0).

Sophomore forward Moni Akintunde (Laurel, Md.) leads the Patriots in points per game with 12.3 and also averages a team-best 8.2 rebounds per contest. Junior forward Tracy Ann Holness (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also averages double figure points with 10.7 and senior guard Jen Daniels (Brigantine, N.J.) is third among her teammates with 10.2 points per game through 10 contests. All three have started every game, along with sophomore guard Keyhana Wakefield (Albany, N.Y.).

The Patriots own a 2-3 record when playing at the Patriot Center this season with the last win coming against Howard University on Nov. 21 (71-49). Mason's last victory was at Brown University as the Patriots won by a score of 64-59 on Dec. 10.

Four players have averaged double digit scoring for the Dukes, including Tamera Young who has scored 17.4 points per game and is second among her teammates in rebounds per game (10.6). Meredith Alexis leads JMU in caroms with 11.1 and is second on her team with 15.2 points per game. The Dukes have started the same five in all 10 contests including Young, Alexis, Lesley Dickinson, Shirley McCall and Andrea Benvenuto.

JMU is on an eight-game win streak, including two wins on the road. The Dukes last game was against Hampton on Dec. 29 at the Convocation Center and won by a score of 68-50. JMU's lone loss of the season came at Virginia Tech as the Hokies claimed an 86-71 victory on their home court. This also marks the Dukes second league game of the season as JMU defeated Virginia Commonwealth by a score of 69-54 on Dec. 4 in Harrisbonburg.

The Dukes hold a 36-20 advantage in the overall series between Mason and the Patriots are 6-18 when playing in Harrisonburg and Mason is 10-15 when playing on its home court. When competing on neutral ground, the series is even at four a piece. Mason split with JMU last season as the Patriots collected its first overtime win of the 2004-05 campaign against the Dukes (50-48) on Jan. 14 at the Patriot Center. The second meeting came on Superbowl Sunday (Feb. 6) and Mason was edged by JMU by a score of 56-52 in Harrisonburg.

Mason's next game is on the road as the Patriots face VCU on Jan. 8 (2 p.m.) at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Va.