Jan. 30, 2008
The George Mason women's basketball team closes out its two-game road trip when it visits James Madison on Thursday evening. The Dukes took the first game of the two teams' season series two weeks ago with a 63-46 victory in Fairfax. Tip time from JMU Convocation Center is set for 7 p.m., with live audio and video available on JMUsports.com.
James Madison enters Thursday's game with a 12-6 record, 5-2 in the CAA. The Dukes have won two straight games, including a 60-56 victory at previous conference leader Towson on Sunday. They are led by Tamera Young, who leads the CAA as well with an average of 20.8 and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Mason's offense continues to be paced by senior Lateisha Wade, who is averaging 14.1 points per game, while classmate Moni Akintunde is the team's leading rebounder, pulling down 6.6 boards per contest. Wade has scored in double figures in both of the Patriots' last two games.
In the Patriots' last game, Wade reached double figures for the 13th time this season, but the UNC Wilmington Seahawks pulled away from Mason for a 63-47 victory in Colonial Athletic Association action on Sunday at Trask Coliseum. Mason (8-10, 2-5 CAA) was unable to overcome the Seahawks' (11-7, 2-5) potent offensive attack, as UNCW shot 52.3 percent (23-44) from the field. Wade's 17 points paced the Mason offense, while UNCW saw three scorers reach double figures in the game. Greta Luksyte and Brittany Blackwell led the Seahawks with 20 and 17 points, respectively, while Sahsha Taylor chipped in 12.
Thursday's game is the second half of the season series between JMU and Mason. The Dukes are the first CAA team that Mason will play twice. Mason has yet to face three conference opponents: Old Dominion, Georgia State, and Northeastern.
Following Thursday's game, Mason returns home to face the Virginia Commonwealth Rams in the culmination of Mason Rivalry Week. The game, which is set to begin at 2 p.m. at Patriot Center, will be the Patriots' "Pack The House Day," as Mason will look to break the single-game women's basketball attendance record of 3,152.
