George Mason (0-0) vs. Bowie State (0-0)
WHEN: Monday, 2 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.  
2022-23 RECORDS: Patriots (16-15, 8-8 A-10), Bulldogs (14-12, 10-6 CIAA)  
SERIES RECORD: Mason leads, 2-0  
LAST MEETING: George Mason defeated Bowie State, 83-81, on Nov. 2, 2014 in Fairfax, Va.
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK
DIGITAL PROGRAM:  LINK

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team is set to open the 2023-24 season on Monday afternoon when it hosts Bowie State in EagleBank Arena.
 
George Mason leads 2-0 in the series history with the Bulldogs, with the last meeting coming also as the season opener for Mason in 2014. The Patriots used a come-from-behind effort to down Bowie State 83-81 at home in EagleBank Arena.
 
A season ago, Mason went 16-15 and advanced to the Atlantic 10 Quarterfinals where it ultimately fell to top-ranked Massachusetts. Bowie State also advanced to its' conference Quarterfinals as the four-seed, where it fell in a tight contest with Elizabeth City State.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Mason returns eight letter winners and four starters from last season's squad, including team point leader Sonia Smith and All-Rookie and Preseason Third Team honoree Nalani Kaysia
• The Patriots welcome seven newcomers, including three transfers, to the roster: Ta'Viyanna Habib (Indian River State), Carmen Williams (Radford) and Page Greenburg (Brown) 
• The freshman class includes Kennedy Harris, Brianna Hill, Faith Okorie and Trinity Massenburg
• Mason returns its' top-4 scorers from a season ago: Sonia Smith (11.3), Taylor Jameson (11.2), Nalani Kaysia (8.8) and Paula Suárez (6.1)
• Kaysia also returns as the team's top rebounder (8.5) and blocker (35)
• Last season, the Patriots posted their first winning season since 2018-19 when the team went 16-14
• Mason also tied their best finish in the Atlantic 10 tournament, advancing to the Quarterfinals for the first time since 2017-2018
• After earning a First-Round bye as the No. 9-seed at the Atlantic 10 Championship, the Patriots upset No. 8 La Salle in Second Round action, the team's second-straight year posting a postseason win
• Prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, Mason was chosen to finish eighth out of 15 teams in the conference, their second-highest preseason pick since joining the Atlantic 10 and the highest since the 2019-20 season

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
 After an appearance in the CIAA Quarterfinals a year ago, Bowie State was picked to finish third overall in 2023-24. Three starters from last year's squad also earned CIAA Preseason Awards, as Katerra Myers, Anii Harris and Saniha Jackson all received their first career preseason nods.
 
Myers recorded eight games in double-digit scoring in 22 games during the 2022-23 season. She led the Bulldogs with 6.6 rebounds while shooting 38.0% from the field. Harris led Bowie State last season with 14.6 points per game, which was eighth overall in the CIAA. She also led the team in minutes (31.7), free throws (110 made) and steals (46). The Ellicott City, Md., native posted six games with 20 points or more.
 
Jackson had a breakout season in 2022-23, leading the team in total rebounds (155) and blocks (16). She averaged 6.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, including a double double of 16 points and 10 rebounds against St. Augustine's.
 
The Bulldogs are set to return four starters from last season that featured Myers, Harris and Jackson. BSU will also return a total of 12 players from the 2022-23 roster, a squad that finished 14-12 overall and 10-6 in the CIAA last season.
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots will host Marshall on Thursday, Nov. 9. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside of EagleBank Arena.