CAMDEN, N.J.  - Competing in its first two-day regatta of the season, the George Mason rowing team got off to a quick start in day one action at the Knecht Cup with three top-four finishes in preliminary heats of Saturday's morning session. Two boats advanced to semifinal action Saturday afternoon and returned on Sunday for a championship final and petite final.

George Mason opened competition with a second-place finish in the novice four behind Iona. The Patriots crossed in 9:03.63 to Iona's 9:00.82. Mason also took second in the varsity eight crossing in 7:12.80; Drexel took first in the heat with a time of 7:09.39. In the second varsity eight, the Patriots finished sixth in 8:05.01, while the novice eight boat finished fourth behind Connecticut in 7:58.57 to close the morning preliminary heats.

In semifinal action in the afternoon, Mason's novice four earned a Grand Final berth with a second place finish. Vassar claimed first in 8:36.32, five seconds ahead of the Patriots with a time of 8:41.48. The varsity eight advanced to Sunday's petite final with a third place semifinal finish (6:55.10).

In Sunday action, Mason took fifth place finishes in both races with the novice four finishing in 8:44.02 in Grand Final action, while the varsity eight took fifth in 7:08.27 in the petite final.

For complete Knecht Cup results, please click here . Mason has a bye week before returning to the water for the Colonial Athletic Association Championships on Sunday, April 24 hosted at Sandy Run Regional Park on the Occoquan Reservoir.

RESULTS
Women's Collegiate Novice 4+ Heat 7
1st    Iona                          9:00.82
2nd    George Mason        9:03.63
3rd    Lafayette                   9:20.17
4th    Philadelphia               9:37.64
5th    Hofstra                      13:48.86

Women's Collegiate Varsity 8+ Heat 5
1st    Drexel                       7:09.39
2nd   George Mason         7:12.80
3rd    Fordham                   7:17.60
4th    BC                           7:21.65
5th    Duquesne                 7:33.69
6th    LaSalle                     7:52.51

Women's Collegiate Second Varsity 8+ Heat 1
1st    Duke                       7:26.22
2nd    Connecticut             7:30.95
3rd    Kansas B                 7:42.10
4th    Marist                      7:45.20
5th    UNH                        7:46.98
6th    George Mason        8:05.01

Women's Collegiate Novice 8+ Heat 4
1st    Villanova                7:35.61
2nd    BC                       7:43.33
3rd    Connecticut           7:55.49
4th    George Mason     7:58.57
5th    Fordham               8:00.35
6th    Susquehanna        9:04.99

Women's Collegiate Novice 4+ Semifinal
1st    Vassar                 8:36.32
2nd    George Mason   8:41.48
3rd    UNH                    8:42.53
4th    Connecticut          8:44.59
5th    UMass A              8:45.50
6th    Carnegie Mellon    8:48.15

Women's Collegiate Varsity 8+ Semifinal
1st    Duke                      6:48.03
2nd    Wisconsin Lwt       6:52.47
3rd    George Mason     6:55.10
4th    UNH                      7:02.97
5th    UMass                  7:05.73
6th    BC                        7:09.13

SUNDAY, APRIL 10
Women's Collegiate Novice 4+ Grand Final
1st    West Virginia A      8:21.49
2nd    UMass C               8:24.86
3rd    Loyola                    8:28.65
4th    Villanova                 8:39.58
5th    George Mason      8:44.02
6th    Vassar                   8:54.46

Women's Collegiate Varsity 8+ Petite Final
1st    Buffalo                   6:54.27
2nd    Drexel                   6:58.14
3rd    UNH                      6:58.54
4th    Kansas                  7:04.91
5th    George Mason      7:08.27
6th    Miami                     7:12.45