Jan. 7, 2006

George Mason (4-7, 0-2 CAA) vs. Virginia Commonwealth (7-4, 0-2)
Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Jan. 9, 2006; 2 p.m.

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Series Record The Patriots hold a 25-19 advantage against Virginia Commonwealth in the overall series. Mason is 11-9 when facing the Rams on the road and the Patriots hold an 12-9 mark when squaring-off in Fairfax. These two teams have met on neutral ground three times and Mason leads, 2-1. Mason and VCU split its series last season as the Patriots collected a 79-64 victory in Fairfax on Jan. 23 and the Rams won on their home court by a score of 62-56 on Feb. 27.

About VCU

Heading into Friday night's match-up with Old Dominion, VCU was on a three-game winning streak and had not lost at home in its five games played at the Siegel Center. The Rams fell to the Lady Monarchs by a score of 82-62 for their second conference loss of the season as VCU dropped a 69-54 decision to JMU in Harrisonburg on Dec. 4.

Freshman Quanita Hollingsworth leads the Rams as she averages 12.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. Hollingsworth shoots 58 percent from the field and has started every contest for VCU. Joining Hollingsworth in being in the starting line-up for all 11 games is junior guard Michele Cosel, sophomore guard LaKea Jones and sophomore guard Vera Chistova.

NCAA & Mason Celebrate Centennial The year 2006 marks the NCAA Centennial as well the 25th anniversary of women's championships in the NCAA. The athletic department has special events planned, including campus and community events that commemorate 100 years of the student-athlete at George Mason. As part of our initiative to recognize former Patriots in all sports, Asst. Vice President/Director of Athletics Tom O'Connor, would like to extend an invitation to former student-athletes and their families to attend and be honored at the Mason's men's home basketball game against Old Dominion on Saturday, January 28 at 2 p.m. For more information, please visit our Web site at GoMason.com.

Last Time on the Court In its second Colonial Athletic Association game of the season, George Mason University's women's basketball team came up short against James Madison as the Dukes defeated the Patriots by a score of 68-50 on Jan. 6 at the Patriot Center.

Senior guard Jen Daniels led the Patriots with 13 points, which included three treys on the night, while junior Nikkia Slade was the other Mason player to score in double figures as she added 11 and also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Casey Quigley matched her career-high of six caroms in 17 minutes of play.

Junior center Meredith Alexis led all scorers with 21 for a new personal-best and also tied JMU's school record with her 29th career double-double as she collected 10 rebounds on the night. Alexis also tallied a season-high five blocks. Junior guard Shirley McCall also registered a double-double as she added 14 points and also pulled down a game-high 11 boards, while sophomore guard Tamera Young chipped in 15 points for the Dukes.

The Patriots were 20-of-59 from the field (34 percent), while the Dukes shot 45 percent (26-of-58) on the night. JMU had the advantage on the boards, 46-32, while Mason collected 10 steals to the Dukes six.

Slade Starting Junior Nikkia Slade started her first game for the Patriots against JMU on Jan. 6 at the Patriot Center and scored a team second-best 11 points for her fifth double figure showing of the season. Slade also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Kind Caroms Sophomore guard Casey Quigley pulled down six rebounds versus the Dukes on Friday to mimic her career-high and set a new season-best.

Sneaking Up Senior guard Jen Daniels is nine 3-point field goals away from tying Tracy Kirk who netted 105 from beyond the arc during her career at Mason (1993-97).

Familiar Foe Mason and VCU have one non-conference opponent in common as both faced Howard University. The Patriots defeated the Lady Bison by a score of 71-49 at the Patriot Center (Nov. 21), while the Rams claimed an 89-66 victory in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 26.

Grounded For Awhile After taking three airplane trips during the non-conference season, Mason will not return to the air until the Patriots travel to Boston to face Northeastern on Feb. 12.

Fountain of Youth Mason is one of the youngest Division I women's basketball teams this season as the Patriots sit tied for third with a total of 11 underclassmen on its roster (five freshman, six sophomores). Air Force has the most underclassmen with seven freshman and six sophomores, for a combined 13.

Playing Host For the second-straight year, George Mason will host the Colonial Athletic Association Championship which will be held from Mar. 8-11 at the Patriot Center.

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 both the 2004 & 2005 seasons. Both years the Sun made it to the WNBA Finals.