WHEN: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (4-1, 0-0 A-10), Kansas City (3-3, 0-0 WAC)
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads, 1-0
LAST MEETING: The Patriots defeated the Roos 91-84 on Nov. 23, 2018 in Kansas City, Mo.
LIVE VIDEO: Click Here
LIVE AUDIO: Click Here
LIVE STATS: Click here
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team returns home to host Kansas City Tuesday at 7 p.m. before traveling to Conway, S.C., for the Coastal Carolina Thanksgiving Classic from Nov. 29-Dec.1.
Tuesday's game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+, with commentary from
Steve Kolbe. In addition, Shawn Ouellete will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m.
PATRIOT POINTS
* Last time out, Mason overcame a 15-point deficit to earn its first-ever win over Penn State, 78-68, on Sunday afternoon in University Park, Pa. The Patriots are on a three-game winning streak and move to 4-0 when scoring more than 70 points in a contest.
* Nicole Cardaño-Hillary dropped a career-high 41 points, shooting 50.0 percent from the field (13-26 FG) and 92.8 percent from the free throw line (13-14 FT). She added a season-high seven rebounds in 40 minutes of play.
* Cardaño-Hillary's 41 points are tied for the third most by a Div. 1 women's basketball player this season and tied for the sixth most in Atlantic 10 history.
* With her 41 points against the Lady Lions, Cardaño-Hillary cracked the top-10 in Mason's all-time scoring, passing Toni Battle (1987-91). She now has 1,331 career points.
* The Patriots have outscored their opponents, 137-83, in the second half over the last three games. Down 15 points with 8:29 remaining the third quarter, Mason outscored Penn State 49-28 in the final two quarters to earn the victory.
* Senior
Sarah Kaminski went 4-of-9 from behind the arc for 12 points against the Lady Lions.
* Without two of its starters,
Jacy Bolton and
Camarie Gatling, the Patriots received valuable minutes from senior
Allie McCool, sophomore
Devyn Wilson and freshmen
Tamia Lawhorne and
Jazmyn Doster. The four combined for 16 points and 16 rebounds against Penn State.
* Mason and Kansas City will meet for just the second time in program history and for the first time in Fairfax, Va. In the lone meeting, the Patriots defeated the Roos 91-84 on Nov. 23, 2018 in Kansas City, Mo.
NICOLE HONORED
Cardaño-Hillary was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week for her performances during the week of Nov. 18-24. It marked her first A-10 Player of the Week honor of the season and fourth of her career. She also was recognized as College Madness' High-Major Conference Player of the Week for the A-10. She averaged 32.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game to lead Mason in wins over American and Penn State.
She currently ranks first in the Atlantic 10 and 11th in Div. 1 women's basketball in scoring (22.6 ppg).
SERIES HISTORY
Mason and Kansas City have only met once in program history, resulting in a 91-84 victory for the Patriots on Nov. 23, 2018 in Kansas City, Mo. Five players scored in double figures, led by 16 points from Cardaño-Hillary. This will be the first meeting between the two teams in Fairfax.
SCOUTING KANSAS CITY
Last time out, Kansas City overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit to force two overtime periods before falling to the Loyola Chicago, 72-67, on Friday. Jada Mickens posted the Roos' first double-double of this year with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Roos have earned victories over Denver (83-79), Portland State (87-69) and Rockhurst (78-60) to sit at 3-3 overall.
Last season, the Roos were 16-15 overall and finished fourth in the conference standings. The Roos bring in six fresh faces for the 2019-20 season, including four junior college transfers. Among them are Kyla Callins (2018-19 NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention), Naomie Alnatas (2017-18 NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention), Jada Mickens (2017-18/18-19 NJCAA All-American Honorable Mention) and Mandy Willems (2018-19 NJCAA DII All-American First Team, ICCAC Player of the Year).
Senior Ericka Mattingly (19.8 PPG) and junior Taylor Larson (4.8 PPG) are the lone returning starters for the Roos.
LAST TIME OUT
Mason overcame a 15-point deficit to earn its first-ever win over Penn State, 78-68, on Sunday afternoon in University Park, Pa. It also marked the Patriots' first win over a Power Five school since Nov. 14, 2014 when Mason knocked off Virginia Tech.
Cardaño-Hillary dropped a career-high 41 points, shooting 50.0 percent from the field (13-26 FG) and 92.8 percent from the free throw line (13-14 FT), to earn Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors. She added a season-high seven rebounds in 40 minutes of play.
UP NEXT
Mason travels to Conway, S.C., for the Coastal Carolina Thanksgiving Classic from Nov. 29-Dec. 1. The Patriots will play Bradley at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by host Coastal Carolina at 2 p.m. Sunday.
