InsideMasonBasketball.com
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL vs East Carolina University
WHEN: Sunday, 6:00 P.M.
WHERE: Minges Coliseum (8,000)
RECORDS: George Mason (0-0), ECU (1-0)
SERIES RECORD: Pirates lead 25-21 (7-13 away)
LAST MEETING: 01/2/13, Mason fell 71-53
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The George Mason women's basketball team will travel to Greenville, N.C. Sunday to take on East Carolina University for the Patriots' regular season opener. Sunday's match-up marks the 47th meeting between the two non-conference squads. The Patriots and Pirates battled for 18 years as conference foes until East Carolina departed the CAA for Conference USA during the 2001-02 season. The Pirates currently own a narrow 25-21 lead in the series and have won seven of the past nine meetings. ECU has won three straight from Mason, winning the last tilt last season, 71-53 January 2 at the Patriot Center.
First year Mason head coach Nyla Milleson makes her debut as the eighth head coach of the Patriots women's basketball team in the program's 40th season. The Patriots return 10 letter-winners and one starter in fifth-year senior Janaa Pickard (8.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg). Other top returners include seniors Kyana Jacobs (4 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and Cierra Strickland (3.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg) and junior Talisha Watts (2.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg).
After sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules, redshirt sophomore Taylor Brown and junior Sandra Ngoie join the Patriots' rotation, with Brown being named the only non-senior team captain.
Brown joins Pickard, Jacobs and Strickland has the team's captains for the 2013-14 campaign.
“Our four captains really exemplify what it means to be a leader,” Milleson said. “They each lead in their own unique way.”
She adds that they have been key in helping throughout the coaching transition.
“When there's change, that's tough,” Milleson said. “When you have your leaders buy in, that's key and these four certainly have.”
