Women's Basketball | 11/13/2017 3:44:00 PM

WHEN: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Reitz Arena, Baltimore, Md.
RECORDS: Mason (0-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10); Loyola (1-0, 0-0 Patriot League)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads 6-3
LAST MEETING: Loyola defeated Mason 63-55 on Jan. 7, 1995 in Baltimore
LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
GAME NOTES: Click Here

FAIRFAX, Va. – After throwing a scare into a Top 25 team to open the season, the George Mason women's basketball team will hit the road again in search for its first win.

The Patriots play Loyola (Md.) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Reitz Arena in Baltimore. The teams are meeting for the first time in more than 22 years. Mason holds a 6-3 advantage in the all-time series.

Mason (0-1) is coming off a 75-61 loss to No. 24/23 Michigan in the opening round of the Preseason WNIT on Friday in Ann Arbor, Mich. Point guard Nicole Cardano-Hillary scored a career-high 22 points in her collegiate debut for the most points by a Mason freshman since Jan. 27, 2005 when Moni Akintunde scored 25 at Old Dominion.

Cardano-Hillary, a native of Georgetown, Texas, also sunk five 3-pointers, shot 7-of-8 from the free-throw line, nabbed three steals and dished out two assists. She was named to the Atlantic 10 weekly honor roll for her performance.

Connecticut graduate transfer Natalie Butler, a 6-foot-5 center making her Mason debut, scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds. The 2017 Atlantic 10 Conference All-Preseason Third Team selection was 6-of-12 from the field and blocked three shots. Sophomore Jacy Bolton, an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection last year, scored 12 points.

Mason stayed within two possessions of the Wolverines – the reigning postseason WNIT champs – most of the night and led early in the second quarter. But Michigan senior and two-time All-American Katelynn Flaherty scored 19 of her game-high 29 points in the second half and the Wolverines ended the game on an 11-3 run to pull away.

Loyola (1-0) defeated Cornell 78-63 in its season opener at home on Friday. Stephanie Karcz led the Greyhounds with career-high 25 points in the season-opening win over Cornell, as she went 11-of-13 from the field, and added a team-best five steals. Izzy Therien had 18 points for her first game, marking the most points for a rookie in their debut game under head coach Joe Logan, and since at least 1990. 

After Tuesday's matchup, the Patriots will return home to conclude the Preseason WNIT as they host the consolation rounds on Friday and Saturday at EagleBank Arena.

Mason plays Old Dominion at 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Saint Francis (Pa.) and Southeast Missouri State playing in the first game of the day at noon. The games will again be set for noon and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, with Mason guaranteed to play at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets for each day will cost $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Tickets are expected to go on sale Tuesday. Tickets are free for Mason students with a valid Mason student ID.