WHEN: Friday, 6 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena, Fairfax, Va.
RECORDS: Mason (3-6, 0-2 A-10), Dayton (3-1, 2-0 A-10)
SERIES RECORD: Dayton leads, 7-2
LAST MEETING: Dayton defeated Mason 59-55 on Jan. 8, 2020 in Dayton, Ohio
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FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team welcomes Dayton to EagleBank Arena on Friday for its A-10 home opener. Tip-off in Fairfax is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Friday's game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN+, with commentary by Steve Kolbe. In addition, Brian McSweeney will call the game on the GoMason Digital Network, with pre-game coverage beginning at 5:50 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS

* Mason (3-6, 0-2 A-10) is set to open conference play against five teams ranked in the top four of the A-10 Preseason Poll: Fordham (T-4th), Davidson (T-4th), Dayton (2nd), Saint Louis (3rd) and VCU (1st). Sunday's game against Saint Louis has been postponed due to the Billikens pausing team activities.

* The Patriots began Atlantic 10 play 0-2 after falling to Fordham (32-62) and Davidson (57-61). 

* Senior Marika Koprinen scored 10 of her career-high 21 points in the final quarter but the Patriots' comeback attempt fell short in a 61-57 loss to Davidson on Sunday. 

* Korpinen, whose previous career high was 20 points against Davidson a season ago, made a career-best seven field goals (.333) vs. the Wildcats. She earned a spot on this week's A-10 Honor Roll after averaging 15.5 ppg and 5.0 rpg in two games for the Patriots.

* Graduate student Daijah Jefferson added 11 rebounds and nine points (4-5 FG). She has registered four double-digit rebounding performances this season and is averaging nearly a double-double for the Patriots – 8.9 ppg and 8.7 rpg.

* A pair of Patriots recorded career highs in rebounds vs. Davidson: Jordan Wakefield (8) and Devyn Wilson (7).

* In the A-10, Korpinen ranks 15th in scoring (12.3), 20th in rebounding (6.2) and 10th in assists (3.2).

* Mason is outscoring its opponents 183-132 in the fourth quarter (+51) while shooting 40.6 percent from the floor (56-138). Mason has outscored eight of its nine opponents in the fourth quarter this season.

* In wins, the Patriots are shooting 36.9 percent from the floor (69-187) and 31.8 percent from behind-the-arc (21-66). Conversely, in losses, Mason is shooting 28.2 percent from the floor (98-347) and just 23.4 from 3-point range (29-124).  

* Mason currently boasts a free throw percentage of .726 – good for fifth in the A-10. They rank first in the A-10 in FT made (127) and FT attempts (175) – good for 36th and 50th in the nation, respectively. Korpinen leads the league in FT made (30) and FT attempts (39). Jefferson is in close second, converting 26-of-35 free throw attempts. 

* The Patriots continue to be efficient on the boards, ranking second in the A-10 in offensive rebounds per game (15.1) and fourth in rebounds per game (41.7). The Patriots are averaging 51.0 rebounds in their three wins but just 37.0 boards in their six losses. 

* The Patriots have three players in the top-20 in the A-10 in rebounding: Jefferson (5th, 8.7), Doster (17th, .4) and Korpinen (20th, 6.2). Jefferson has tallied the second-most rebounds in the A-10 with 78 boards.

* Korpinen is 21st in program history in three-point field goals made with 71.

* Six different Patriots have led the team in scoring this season – Korpinen (4), Jefferson (2), Wilson, Wakefield, Doster and Balzer. The Patriots have six players averaging at least 5.0 points per game. In addition, eight players have at least registered one double-digit scoring performance in 2020-21.

SERIES HISTORY 

The two teams will be meeting for the 10th time in program history with Dayton leading the all-time series, 7-2. The last three meetings have been decided by five points or fewer.

A season ago, Dayton defeated Mason 59-55 on Jan. 8, 2020 inside UD Arena. Mason cut the deficit to one with 3:12 remaining (55-54) but, as time winded down, the Patriots committed three turnovers and missed their final two looks as Dayton held on for the victory.

SCOUTING THE FLYERS 

Dayton is 3-1 to begin the year and 2-0 to open conference play having defeated Saint Bonaventure (56-47) and Duquesne (64-48) last weekend.

Dayton is led by redshirt senior Erin Whalen with 18.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Reigning A-10 Rookie of the Week Makira Cook is adding 6.8 points while shooting 50 percent from the floor.

Dayton was picked second in the 2019-20 preseason poll. UD returns Preseason All-Conference selections Erin Whelan, Araion Bradshaw and Kyla Whitehead. The Flyers finished at 25-8 last year, won a regular season title with an Atlantic 10 record of 15-1, and won the A-10 Championship to secure an NCAA bid before the COVID-19 pandemic ended the season. 

UP NEXT 

Sunday's game against Saint Louis has been postponed due to the Billikens pausing team activities. The Patriots will look ahead to a road contest against VCU on Wednesday (Jan. 13) at 6 p.m. in Richmond.