The George Mason women's basketball team will host five non-conference opponents as part of the 2014-15 regular season. The non-conference schedule, released Thursday, features two teams that finished the 2013-14 season with a top 100 RPI.
“We're excited about our schedule heading into our second season in the Atlantic 10 and my second season at Mason,” head coach Nyla Milleson said. “Our schedule will definitely prepare us for the rigors of the always tough A-10 schedule.”
The Patriots will host Bowie State in a preseason exhibition on Nov. 2 before opening the regular season under second-year head coach Nyla Milleson, with a four-game home stand starting on Nov. 14.
Mason will tip off regular season play Nov. 14 when in-state foe, Virginia Tech, comes to the Patriot Center for the first of four home games in nine days. The Hokies are the only non-conference visitors the Patriots did not face during the 2013-14 campaign. The two programs are no strangers, however, as Mason has faced VT seven times dating back to 1986 and last meeting in 2009. Tech currently holds a 5-2 series advantage.
“Whenever we can play a team out of a conference like the ACC it's great for the players and the fans,” Milleson said. “It's a strong start to the season, that's for sure.”
The Patriots will the host Morehead State on Nov. 16 followed by Delaware State on Nov. 19 before wrapping up the home stand against the College of Charleston on Nov. 23. Mason faced all three opponents on the road last season with a win over Morehead, the first under Milleson.
The Green and Gold will travel to Navy on Nov. 25 before heading to the University of Missouri—Kansas City for the Plaza of Lights Classic. The Patriots will face Abilene Christian on Nov. 28 and Mississippi Valley on Nov. 29.
The Patriots then return home to host East Tennessee State on Dec. 3 before kicking off a four-game road trip to close out the calendar year and non-conference schedule starting with a return trip to St. Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 6.
After a two-week break for finals, Mason heads to Wichita State for the Shockers Winter Classic where they'll face Winthrop on Dec. 19 and Louisiana-Monroe on Dec. 20. The Patriots return to the Virginia-Maryland area for the last two games of non-conference play, facing Longwood on Dec. 22 and Towson on Dec. 28.
The Patriots enter the 2014-15 season with four returning letter-winners and seven total players from last season's roster, including transfers Kristi Mokube and Jasmine Jackson.
“Though not all of them played last year, having seven players who have gone through a full season with our staff will be huge,” Milleson said. “Those seven combined with our five active newcomers should provide a nice mix, both on and off the court.”
Season tickets will go on sale in mid-September, while single game tickets will be available beginning in late October. Contact the Athletic Ticket Office at 703-993-3270 for further information.
Mason's full game schedule, including A-10 conference games and game times, will be released at a later date.
