Feb. 8, 2008

After a trying test in which they nearly upset a nationally-ranked Old Dominion squad, the George Mason Patriots will hit the road looking to avenge their first conference loss of the year when they face Delaware on Sunday. The two teams met on Jan. 6, with the Fightin' Blue Hens notching a 64-49 victory in both teams' Colonial Athletic Association openers. Game time at the Bob Carpenter Center is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Delaware will host the Patriots on Sunday looking to sweep the season series for the fourth-straight year. UD has won eight straight matchups against Mason, and enters Sunday's game on a two-game winning streak. The Fightin' Blue Hens are led by Kyle DeHaven in points and rebounds, as the senior guard is averaging 11.0 and 5.3 per game. She is also leading the league in steals, averaging 4.36 per contest. Five of Delaware's six wins this season have come in CAA action.

On Thursday night, senior Lateisha Wade recorded her first career double-double, pouring in game highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds, but the Patriots could not overcome 13th-ranked Old Dominion as the Lady Monarchs outlasted a spirited Mason squad, 71-61, in Colonial Athletic Association actionat Patriot Center. Mason fell to 8-13, 2-8 in the CAA, as the Patriots could not stop the Lady Monarchs (19-3, 10-0), who remained undefeated in the conference while winning their 12th-straight game. The 10-point margin of victory, though, was the second-smallest by ODU in the conference this season.

After trailing the Lady Monarchs by 19 points at halftime, Mason shot a blistering 64.0 percent from the field (16-25) in the second half to slice the deficit in half and throw a scare into nationally-ranked ODU. That field goal percentage was the highest by the Patriots this season in any half, and the best since the Patriots shot 64.3 percent (18-28) in the second half of a 87-54 win over New Hampshire on Dec. 29, 2000.

Wade picked up her first career double-double on Friday night after recording game highs of 18 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Wade had previously never cracked double figures in either rebounds or assists, coming as close as eight in both categories.

Mason continues its road swing with a trip to Atlanta, as Georgia State hosts the Patriots at 6 p.m. on Thursday.