Women's Basketball | 11/23/2017 1:34:00 AM

WHAT: Mason vs. Drake in Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic
WHEN: 4:30 p.m., Friday
WHERE: Coors Events Center, Boulder, Colo.
SERIES: Mason leads 1-0
LAST MEETING: Mason defeated Drake 76-70 on Nov. 14, 2012 in Las Cruces, N.M.
RECORDS: Mason: 5-1 (0-0 Atlantic 10); Drake: 2-2 (0-0 Missouri Valley)
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BOULDER, Colo. – Riding its longest winning streak in six years, the George Mason women's basketball team gears up for a Thanksgiving tournament out west.

The Patriots will compete in the Rocky Mountain Hoops Classic hosted by the University of Colorado on Friday and Saturday at the Coors Events Center. Mason opens the tournament against Drake at 4:30 p.m. (EST) on Friday. The Patriots will play either host Colorado or Mississippi Valley State at 2 or 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Mason heads into the tournament on a five-game winning streak and off to a 5-1 start – both top marks for the Patriots since the 2011-12 season. Mason is coming off a 56-37 victory over Illinois State on Wednesday to cap off a perfect 4-0 homestand at EagleBank Arena. The Patriots last won their first four games at home in 2013-14.

SCOUTING DRAKE
The Bulldogs (2-2) are coming off a 75-61 loss at Wyoming on Tuesday. Their only other loss came to No. 11 Oregon in the Preseason WNIT. They are led by sophomore Becca Hittner (13.5 ppg), redshirt sophomore Sarah Rhine (13.0 ppg) and junior Sammie Bachrodt (12.8 ppg). Last year, Drake went an impressive 28-5 overall and 18-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play for the first undefeated season in league history. The Bulldogs set conference and program records in winning 22 straight games. They won both the conference regular-season and tournament championships and reached the NCAA Tournament. Head coach Jennie Baranczyk, now in her sixth season at the helm, was named the MVC Coach of the Year.
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and Bulldogs have played just once before - also on a neutral floor during a Thanksgiving tournament. Mason defeated Drake 76-70 on Nov. 24, 2012 at the New Mexico State Thanksgiving Classic in Las Cruces, N.M. Drake head coach Jennie Baranczyk was in her first year. Mason director of operations Amber Easter was a senior and scored 10 points for the Patriots.

MISSOURI VALLEY CONNECTION
Mason head coach Nyla Milleson and assistant coach Kaci Bailey are no strangers to Drake and the Missouri Valley Conference. Before arriving at Mason, Milleson spent six years as the head coach at Missouri State, compiling a 105-87 record and making three appearances in the postseason WNIT. Bailey is in her first season at Mason but spent the last three on the staff at Wichita State, which left the MVC prior to this season for the American Athletic Conference. This also marks Mason's second straight game against a Missouri Valley foe as the Patriots defeated Illinois State 56-37 on Monday in Fairfax.
 
RECAPPING ILLINOIS STATE
The Patriots won their fifth straight game with a 56-37 victory over Illinois State on Wednesday at EagleBank Arena to cap off a perfect 4-0 homestand. Natalie Butler (13 points), Nicole Cardano-Hillary (12) and Jacy Bolton (10) each scored in double figures. Butler also had 15 rebounds for her fifth consecutive double-double. A 12-0 run at the end of the first quarter and halfway through the second period erased a six-point deficit and put the Patriots up for good. Ten players scored for Mason, which outrebounded the Redbirds 53-32. The Patriots also held ISU to just 26.3 percent shooting.