Women's Basketball | 12/27/2017 8:42:00 PM

WHEN: Thursday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (10-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10); Longwood (2-7, 0-0 Big South)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads 11-2
LAST MEETING: Mason defeated Longwood 83-61 on Dec. 22, 2014 in Farmville, Va.
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team returns to the court in hopes of closing out its best non-conference stretch in nearly than three decades.

The Patriots host Longwood at 7 p.m. on Thursday at EagleBank Arena for their final non-conference game of the season. With 10 non-conference wins, Mason has won its most games out of conference since the 1990-91 campaign.

After stepping away for the holidays, the Patriots (10-3) are back at EagleBank looking to build on their perfect start at home this year. They've won their first eight home games, surpassing the 1993-94 squad's previous school-record 7-0 start. Dating back to last year, the Patriots have won nine consecutive games at home, matching a nine-game winning streak between the 1992-93 and 1993-94 seasons.

Mason is coming off an 82-73 loss at Houston last Thursday. The setback snapped a four-game winning streak for the Patriots, who were off to their best start in 30 years at 10-2. Graduate student Natalie Butler scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed 20 rebounds but the Cougars jumped in front and pulled away for good with a 10-0 run in the last three minutes. Mason also committed a season-high 33 turnovers, which Houston turned into 36 points.

Butler was named the Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for the fifth time this season. She was 13 of 16 from the field and became the 17th player in Mason history to score more than 30 points in a game. Her 20 rebounds were one shy of a career high. The Fairfax Station, Va., native, is the first Mason player with 20-plus points and 20-plus rebounds in the same game since Janaa Pickard had 21 points and 21 rebounds during the 2013-14 season.

Butler is averaging a double-double with 19.2 points and 14.2 rebounds. She leads the A-10 in scoring and rebounding. She also ranks first in the country in rebounding and double-doubles (12).

Longwood (2-7) has lost five of six and is coming off a 73-44 loss at Eastern Michigan on Dec. 20. Senior Autumn Childress leads the Lancers with 11.5 points and 10.6 rebounds a game. Mason leads the all-time series 11-2. The Patriots have won the last four meetings, with the most recent contest coming more than three years ago.