George Mason (5-0) vs. American (1-3)
WHEN: Wednesday, 1 p.m.
WHERE: Bender Arena; Washington, D.C.  
2022-23 RECORDS: Patriots (16-15, 8-8 Atlantic 10), Eagles (9-22, 7-11 Patriot)  
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads, 32-22  
LAST MEETING:  Mason defeated American, 71-59, on Dec. 3, 2022 in Fairfax, Va.
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+ 
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team will travel to the nation's capital on Wednesday to take on American with a chance at the best start in program history.
 
With a win over American, the Patriots will best the previous best start in program history, set in 2000-01 when Mason opened the year winning its' first five games. 
 
Wednesday marks the 55^th installment of the longtime series, dating back to George Mason's second season in program history on February 8, 1975 when the Patriots won 66-62. The Patriots won last year's meeting in Fairfax, 71-59, and will look to win on the road in DC for the first time since 2006. The Patriots will also be looking to win two games in a row against the Eagles for the first time in 16 years. 
 
The last time out, Mason downed Robert Morris 83-63, the third time this season eclipsing 80 points, to move to 5-0. On the other hand, American lost its' third-straight game to a third-straight Atlantic 10 team. The Eagles fell to Richmond on the road, 76-44.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• The game at American will mark the Patriots' first of six-straight road games to close out their non-conference schedule
• Mason continued its' historic start on Saturday afternoon, downing Robert Morris 83-63 to move to 5-0 and match the best start in school history
• Sonia Smith posted two more double-figure scoring performances last week, leading the team with 15 points and a career-high three made threes in Wednesday's win over Pitt. She has scored 10+ points in every game and her 13.0 ppg ranks 15^th in the Atlantic 10
• Kennedy Harris led the Patriots in scoring on Saturday, posting 13 points on 4-7 shooting and 2-2 from deep. The rookie is third on the team with 10.8 ppg this year and leads the team with nine made three-pointers at a .529 percentage (8th, A-10)
• Defensively, the Patriots are shining, with opponents averaging over 21 turnovers per game. Mason has the second-best turnover margin in the A-10 at 7.40
• Mason is also second in the conference in scoring at 80.0 points per game and rebounding with 43.8 boards per contest. Nalani Kaysia leads the team with 6.0 rpg

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
American enters Wednesday's game at 1-3 after its' third-straight road loss at Richmond. After opening the season with a convincing 81-68 win over Longwood, the Eagles went on the road to meet up with three-straight Atlantic 10 members, falling to La Salle, George Washington and Richmond.
 
Leading the way on offense for the Eagles is Emily Johns, who is the lone player averaging double-figures with 12.0 points per game, including 22 points against La Salle. Riley DeRubbo leads the team in shooting from deep, hitting eight of her 15 attempts from three-point range this season. Kayla Henning and Ivy Bales lead the way in assists with 14 and 12, respectively.
 
Molly Lavin leads the way in rebounding with 6.5 boards per game and is second in scoring with 9.3 points. Bales has also been strong on defense with a team-high seven steals this season to go with 5.0 rebounds per game.
 
UP NEXT
Mason will play the rest of its' non-conference games on the road, travelling to another DMV opponent in Coppin State. Tip-off with the Eagles is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26.