George Mason (3-3) vs. LSU (5-0)
WHEN: Thursday, 2 p.m.
WHERE: Gateway Christian Academy; Bimini, Bahamas
2021-22 RECORDS: Patriots (10-19, 3-12 A-10), Tigers (26-6, 13-3 SEC)  
LAST MEETING: First meeting
 
George Mason (3-3) vs. UAB (3-0)
WHEN: Friday, 2 p.m. OR Saturday, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Gateway Christian Academy; Bimini, Bahamas
2021-22 RECORDS: Patriots (10-19, 3-12 A-10), Blazers (16-15, 8-10 C-USA)  
SERIES RECORD: UAB leads, 2-1 
LAST MEETING: UAB won, 67-64
 
TOURNAMENT INFO: HERE
LIVE VIDEO: FloSports
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK (PDF)
 
BIMINI, Bahamas - The George Mason women's basketball tournament will travel to the Caribbean for the first time in program history this week at the Goombay Splash Classic, taking on LSU and University of Alabama at Birmingham.
 
The Patriots and Tigers have never met, but Mason is 2-9 against SEC opponents in program history. Most recently, the Patriots took down Florida in EagleBank Arena on Nov. #, 2021. Mason and UAB have met three times, with the Blazers pulling out a close 67-64 win the last time out on Dec. 21, 2013.

PATRIOT POINTS

• Junior Taylor Jameson is averaging 19.3 points per game over the last three games, leading the Patriots in scoring over the same span. She was named to the A-10 Honor Roll on Monday for her performances against Charleston Southern and Loyola (Md.). She is now averaging 15.0 ppg, good for 10th in the Atlantic 10.
• Senior Nalani Kaysia (1.3 bpg; tied-5th, A-10) and graduate student Riley Childs (1.8 bpg; 2nd, A-10) have been shining defensively, have combined for 17 total blocks to go along with 7.3 and 4.4 rebounds per game, respectively.
• Paula Suarez tallied a career-high five assists on Monday against William & Mary, bringing her season total to 18 (9th, A-10) for an average of 3.0 per game. 

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
LSU was most recently ranked No. 12 in the AP Top-25 Poll on Tuesday, Nov. 15 after a dominant 5-0 start to the 2022-23 season. Similar to Mason, the Tigers have won all of their games at home, and this week's tournament will mark the first time LSU has played outside of their own Pete Maravich Center in Baton Rouge, La. Through those five games, LSU is yet to score below 100 points.
 
All five of LSU's current starters are averaging double-digit scoring through the first five games, led by Preseason All-SEC Second Team honoree Angel Reese, who is averaging 23.2 points and 15.6 rebounds per game after transferring from Maryland. The forward also leads the team in steals (13) and blocks (10) while shooting at a 62.7% efficiency.
 
Fellow Preseason All-SEC Second Team honoree Alexis Morris is third on the team in scoring (14.2 ppg) while pacing the offense with a team-best 25 assists. Flau'jae Johnson, another major contributor all over the court, is second on the team in scoring (16.6 ppg), steals (11) and assists (15).
 
SCOUTING THE BLAZERS
UAB is off to a hot start in 2022, winning their first three games to come into Goombay Splash undefeated. The Blazers took down Nicholls 69-40 and beat Auburn Montgomery and Valpariso in tight two-point victories.
 
The Blazers are led offensively by three players who are averaging double-digit scoring through the first three games. Margaret Whitley is averaging 12.7 ppg and leads the team in three-pointers made (8) and free-throws (10-10). Maria Roters is second on the team in scoring (11.0 ppg), shooting at a team-best .737 and is first in rebounding (6.3 rpg) and steals (2.0 spg).
 
Denim DeShields is contributing 10.0 points/game and leads the team with 13 assists. Molly Moffitt has also been a major contributor under the net, matching Roters' team-high 6.3 boards per game to go along with 6.0 points per game.
 
UP NEXT
Mason will return to Fairfax to kick of the final month of 2022 on Dec. 1 to host East Carolina. Tip-off with the Pirates from EagleBank Arena is set for 7 p.m.