Jan. 3, 2009

The George Mason women's basketball team opens its 24th season of Colonial Athletic Association play on Sunday afternoon when it hosts James Madison. The game, set to begin at Patriot Center at 2 p.m., can be followed live via Mason All-Access.

JMU enters conference play with a 7-4 record and a four-game win streak, most recently a 87-62 victory at Siena. Outscoring their opponents by an average of ten points per game while averaging 43.6 percent field goal shooting, the Dukes are led by Dawn Evans, whose 25.0 points per game scoring average ranks second in the country. Nina Uqdah leads the Dukes off the glass with 7.5 rebounds per game.

Last time they met, Mason fell to James Madison, 81-61, on Jan. 31, 2008 at the JMU Convocation Center. The loss dropped the Patriots to 8-11, 2-6 in the Colonial Athletic Association, while the Dukes swept the season series as they improved to 13-6, 6-2 in conference play. Brittany Poindexter tied a season-high and led the Patriots with 12 points, while the Dukes, who held a 50.9-to-40.0 percent field goal shooting advantage, saw four players reach double figures. JMU's offense was led by Tamera Young and Lauren Jimenez, who each chipped in 20 points.

The Dukes lead the all-time series 43-20, and have won the last seven matchups.

The Patriots have compiled an 11-12 record in Colonial Athletic Association openers, dating to their first season in the CAA in 1985-86. Last season, the Patriots fell to Delaware, 64-49, in their conference lid-lifter. Mason has not opened CAA play against JMU since 2003, when the Patriots defeated the Dukes, 82-57 in Fairfax.

On Tuesday the Patriots accomplished an admirable feat as five different players scored in double figures. The last time that happened was on Nov. 28, 2006, an 80-77 win at Howard. The five players were Lateisha Wade (22), Moni Akintunde (19), Casey Quigley (14), C'Vette Henson (11), and Jessica Smith (10).