Nov. 22, 2009

The George Mason women's basketball team returns home to open a season-long four-game homestand, beginning with a matchup against Jacksonville on Monday evening at the Patriot Center. Tip off is set for 7 p.m.

After a season-opening home win over Norfolk State, the Patriots dropped both of their road contests at Richmond and Virginia Tech last week to set their record at 1-2. Ashleigh Braxton leads the team with a 12.7 points-per-game average. She has scored in double figures in each of Mason's three games.

Jacksonville sports the same record as the Patriots, as both teams enter Monday's contest with a 1-2 mark. The Dolphins earned their first win of the season on Friday in their home opener, defeating Florida Tech by a 77-53 margin. Courtney Jackson is JU's top scorer, as she is averaging 12.7 points per game. The Dolphins have averaged 46 rebounds per game, but are being outscored by an average of 6.3 points per game.

Last time they met, Mason opened up a five-game road trip on Nov. 25, 2008 at Jacksonville but was unable to come away with a victory as the Dolphins defeated the Patriots, 69-49, at Swisher Gymnasium. Whitney Ward led Mason (0-5) with 14 points, 10 of which coming from the free throw line, while Eugenia Broadus was the top rebounder for the Patriots, pulling down six rebounds. Virginia Gregoire had 22 points to lead the Dolphins, who evened their season record at 2-2.

The matchup was the first between the two teams. The Patriots have never recorded a victory against the current membership of the Atlantic Sun Conference, holding an 0-4 record with two losses to East Tennessee State and one loss to Campbell and Jacksonville each.

Following Monday's game, the Patriots host North Carolina Central for a post-holiday contest on Friday night at 7 p.m.