Women's Basketball | 9/11/2018 1:06:00 PM

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team's Atlantic 10 schedule will feature eight home games, two matchups against 2018 NCAA Tournament teams at EagleBank Arena and two nationally televised contests.

The A-10 unveiled the conference schedule on Tuesday and the Patriots will play two games on national TV – on Jan. 13 against Duquesne (CBS Sports Network) and on Jan. 16 on the road at Massachusetts (NBC Sports Network). In addition, 2018 NCAA Tournament participants George Washington (Feb. 6) and Dayton (Feb. 24) will come to EagleBank Arena.

The Patriots open conference play at Davidson on Jan. 6. They then return to Fairfax for a short two-game homestand against St. Bonaventure (Jan. 10) and fellow 2018 WNIT participant Duquesne (Jan. 13). The matchup against the Dukes will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. 

Mason heads to UMass on Jan. 16 for a nationally televised noon tip-off on NBC Sports Network. The Patriots then make the short trip to Revolutionary Rival and 2018 A-10 tournament champ George Washington on Jan. 19 in D.C. for the first of two games against the Colonials. 

Rhode Island comes to town on Jan. 27 and closes out the month at 2018 WNIT participant Saint Louis on Jan. 31. The Patriots open February on the road at St. Bonaventure (Feb. 3) in Olean, N.Y., before coming home to host George Washington (Feb. 6). The Colonials knocked off Mason in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament on their way to capturing the tournament title and locking up the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. 

Mason then heads to Fordham, which reached the third round of the WNIT, for the first time in three years, playing in the Bronx on Feb. 10. The Patriots return to Fairfax to play consecutive home games against La Salle (Feb. 14) and VCU (Feb. 17) before staying in state and playing at Richmond on Feb. 21. 

They'll host defending A-10 regular-season champ Dayton, which also made the NCAA Tournament, on Feb. 24. The Patriots then cap off their regular-season home schedule by welcoming Saint Joseph's, one of five A-10 teams to make the WNIT, on Feb. 27. They close out the regular season at La Salle on March 2 in Philadelphia. 

Mason placed fourth in the league last year and won 11 conference games for its highest finish and most wins in the A-10 since joining in 2013-14. The Patriots won a school-record 24 games and reached the second round of the WNIT, securing their first postseason victory in program history.

Mason returns three starters and nine letterwinners from 2017-18, including 2018 A-10 Rookie of the Year Nicole Cardano-Hillary. The point guard from Spain ranked third in the conference with 17.8 points a game.
 
Full 2018-19 Schedule
Nov. 6 – Loyola (Md.) (ESPN+)
Nov. 9 – at Air Force 
Nov. 14 – at American
Nov. 18 – Colgate (ESPN+)
Nov. 21 – at Kansas
Nov. 23 – at UMKC
Nov. 28 – at Howard
Dec. 2 – at Washington
Dec. 6 – Delaware (ESPN+)
Dec. 9 – at Eastern Kentucky
Dec. 21 – Houston (ESPN+)
Dec. 29 – UMES (ESPN+)
Dec. 31 – College of Charleston (ESPN+)
Jan. 6 – at Davidson 
Jan. 10 – St. Bonaventure (ESPN+)
Jan. 13 – Duquesne (CBSSN)
Jan. 16 – at Massachusetts (NBCSN)
Jan. 19 – at George Washington
Jan. 27 – Rhode Island (ESPN+)
Jan. 31 – at Saint Louis
Feb. 3 – at St. Bonaventure
Feb. 6 – George Washington (ESPN+)
Feb. 10 – at Fordham
Feb. 14 – La Salle (ESPN+)
Feb. 17 – VCU (ESPN+)
Feb. 21 – at Richmond
Feb. 24 – Dayton (ESPN+)
Feb. 27 – Saint Joseph's (ESPN+)
March 2 – at La Salle