Women's Basketball | 12/19/2018 11:51:00 AM

WHO: George Mason vs. Houston
WHEN: Friday, 4 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (6-4, 0-0 Atlantic 10); Houston (4-7, 0-0 American Athletic Conference)
SERIES RECORD: Houston leads 1-0
LAST MEETING: Houston defeated Mason 82-73 on Dec. 21, 2017 in Houston, Texas
LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click Here
GAME NOTES: Click Here 
GAME OF THE WEEK: Free Mason Sillipint Cup for Mason students with a valid Mason student ID while supplies last.

1/2 PRICE TICKETS/CANNED FOOD DRIVE: Mason Athletics is collecting non-perishable food items in support of the Social Ministry at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. Items in need include:  shelf milk, flour, sugar, cooking oils, paper products, baby wipes. Bring an item to donate and receive 50% off regular priced tickets.
 
SCOUTING HOUSTON
The Cougars (4-7) have lost two straight and four of five. They suffered a 65-61 overtime loss to UT Arlington on Monday at home. Junior guard Jasmyne Harris leads the team with 17.1 points a game and is tied for fourth in the nation with 38 steals. Junior Angela Harris (no relation) and senior Seritha Hawkins also average double figures scoring, with 11.1 and 10.6 points per game, respectively. Houston was picked to finish third in the American Athletic Conference after returning all five starters from a team that won 20 games and reached the WNIT in 2017-18.

SERIES HISTORY
The teams have met just once – just last year, with Houston holding on for an 82-73 victory on Dec. 21, 2017 in Houston. Then-graduate student Natalie Butler led the Patriots with a career-high 35 points and 20 rebounds. Nicole Cardaño-Hillary also added 14 points before fouling out in the final minutes. Houston's Angela Harris and Seritha Hawkins each scored 18 points and the Cougars nabbed 16 steals and caused 33 turnovers. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Patriots wrapped up their non-conference road slate with a 91-75 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Dec. 9 in Richmond, Ky. Sophomore Nicole Cardaño-Hillary scored a career-high 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 day at the free-throw line. She also had five assists, five rebounds and two steals. Junior Jacy Bolton added a season-high 18 points and four 3-pointers. Junior Alexsis Grate and sophomore Marika Korpinen each scored 10 points. Mason shot a season-high 57.6 percent from the field, matched a season-best with 91 points and pulled away with 33 points in the fourth quarter.

ATLANTIC 10 LEADERS
Several Patriots are among the league's best in numerous statistical categories. Sophomore Nicole Cardaño-Hillary leads the Atlantic 10 in scoring with 21.1 points per game. Sophomore forward Camarie Gatling also ranks first in the conference with a shooting percentage of .600 and fellow sophomore Marika Korpinen is atop the league in 3-point shooting percentage (.500). Junior Jacy Bolton, who has three double-doubles this season, ranks second in the A-10 with 7.8 rebounds a game.