George Mason (4-0) vs. Robert Morris (1-2)
WHEN: Saturday, 3 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.
2022-23 RECORDS: Patriots (16-15, 8-8 A-10), Colonials (11-19, 5-15 Horizon)
SERIES RECORD: RMU leads, 1-0
LAST MEETING: RMU won, 53-52, on Nov. 15, 2022 in Moon Township, 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 welcome Robert Morris to EagleBank Arena on Saturday for its' last non-conference home game of the season.
With a win, the Patriots would match the best start in program history, set in 2000-01 when the team opened with five wins over Morgan St., St. Francis, Portland State, Ball State and Georgetown.
Saturday's game marks just the second meeting between the two teams, with the first coming last season at Robert Morris. The Colonials used a late push in a come-from-behind victory that gave the hosts the 53-52 win.
Both teams most recently played on Wednesday. The Patriots picked up a victory in a 60-52 defensive battle with Pitt to move to 4-0 on the season. Robert Morris also played at home, hosting Akron, falling 63-58 to the Zips in overtime.
PATRIOT POINTS
- Freshman Kennedy Harris was named 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 fourth time in the same number of games, Sonia Smith tallied double-figure scoring against Pitt, dropping a team-high 15 points with a career-high-matching three made three-pointers. She leads the team with 13.3 points per game (13th, A-10)
- Ta'Viyanna Habib also tallied double-digits with 10 points and averages 13.0 points (16th, A-10). She is one of five Patriots that are averaging double-figures for Mason
- Sonia Smith and Paula Suárez are once again leading the Patriots, averaging 3.5 and 3.3 per game, respectively. The pari ranks in the top 15 in the Atlantic 10
- Defensively, Mason tallied a season-best five blocks with at least one from four different players against Pitt. Nalani Kaysia led the way with two
- Among Atlantic 10 members, Mason tops the field with 79.3 points per game and 44.8 rebounds per game
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Robert Morris enters Saturday's game at 1-2 after dropping their home opener to the Akron Zips on Wednesday afternoon. The Colonials kicked off the 2023-24 season with a road victory over Saint Francis, but then fell to Atlantic 10 member St. Bonaventure 70-52.
Two Colonials are averaging double-figure scoring through three games, led by Simone Morris' 13.3 points per game. She also leads RMU with five made threes and is 13-13 from the charity stripe. Naomi Barnwell is second on the team with 12.0 points per game and is shooting at an impressive .600 clip. with 15 makes.
Barnwell also leads Robert Morris with 7.0 rebounds while Danielle Vuletich is just behind her with 6.7 boards per game. Vuletich also leads the team in blocks with eight on the year while Barnwell has tallied four. Vuletich is also second on the team with six assists on the season and Louella Allana leads the way with seven.
UP NEXT
Mason will play the rest of its' non-conference games on the road, beginning with a short trip to the nation's capital. The Patriots will take on the Eagles of American University on Wednesday, Nov. 22, with tip-off set for 1 p.m.
TOY COLLECTION
Join the men's and women's basketball teams as they collect toys for underserved children to enjoy this holiday season! Starting this Saturday, November 18, bring your toys to the women's basketball game at EagleBank Arena at 3 p.m.! Toys will also be collected at the following men's basketball games:
November 25, 2 p.m.
November 29, 7 p.m.
December 16, 6 p.m.
December 19, 7 p.m.
Bring a toy and receive $5 off your ticket! Email
icatix@gmu.edu for more information. Thank you for joining us to bring joy to underserved children this holiday season!
