George Mason (3-0) vs. Pittsburgh (1-1)
WHEN: Wednesday, 4 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.
2022-23 RECORDS: Patriots (16-15, 8-8 A-10), Panthers (10-20, 3-15 ACC)
SERIES RECORD: Pitt leads, 3-0
LAST MEETING: Pitt won, 63-45, on Nov. 12, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team will look to improve upon its' historic start on Wednesday when it hosts the Panthers of Pittsburgh in EagleBank Arena.
In just the fourth meeting between the two programs, Mason will look to pick up its' first win over Pitt. A season ago, the Panthers downed the Patriots at home, 63-45. Wednesday's game also marks the first time that Pitt will make the trek to Fairfax. The Patriots are also looking for their first win over an ACC opponent since 2014, when Mason downed Virginia Tech, 77-69 at home.
The last time out, Mason downed William & Mary 77-72 on the road to move to 3-0 on the season. On the other hand, Pitt was handed its' first loss of the season at the hands of West Virginia, 71-62 at home. The Panthers' trip to Fairfax marks their first road game of the season.
PATRIOT POINTS
- Mason's 3-0 start is the best start since the 2000-01 team opened the season at 5-0
- Freshman Kennedy Harris was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week on Monday after averaging 12.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and shooting 54.2%
- For the third-straight game, four Patriots scored in double figures against William & Mary, all with season-highs. Led by team-highs from Taylor Jameson (16) and Sonia Smith (16), the seniors were joined by Kennedy Harris (15) and Nekhu Mitchell (10).
- Jameson also dished out a season and game-best five assists while Mitchell added a career-best four assists. Overall, Smith leads the team with 11 on the season (2nd, A-10)
- Ta'Viyanna Habib leads the Patriots in scoring, averaging 14.0 points per game (15th, A-10), as five different players are currently averaging double-figure scoring through three games
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Pittsburgh opened the 2023-24 season with two games last week, debuting with a win over Yale before falling to West Virginia. Both games were played at home, with George Mason marking the Panthers' first road trip of the year.
Liatu King has established herself at the top of the box score this season, posting two double- doubles in the team's opening two games. She posted 16 points and 14 rebounds against Yale before scoring a career-high 28 points to go with 14 rebounds against West Virginia. She also leads the team with five steals and three blocks and has hit 14 of 15 attempts at the free throw line.
Two other players are averaging double-figures for the Panthers, as Bella Perkins and Rapuluchi Ayodele average 14.5 and 13.5 points, respectively. Ayodele is also second on the team with 12.5 rebounds per game. Pacing the offense is Marley Washenitz who has dished out a team-high nine assists this season.
UP NEXT
Mason will wrap up its' two-game home stand against Robert Morris. The Patriots will welcome the Colonials to Fairfax for a 3 p.m. tip on Saturday, Nov. 18.
