George Mason (10-3, 1-1) vs. Duquesne (7-6, 2-0)
WHEN: Sunday, 12 p.m.
WHERE: UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse; Pittsburgh, Pa. 
2022-23 RECORDS: Patriots (16-15, 8-8 A-10), Dukes (19-12, 8-8 A-10)  
SERIES RECORD: Duquesne leads 11-3
LAST MEETING: Mason defeated Duquesne in Fairfax, 61-45 on Jan. 8, 2023
LIVE VIDEO: CBS Sports Network 
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK
 
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team looks to get back in the win column this weekend when it travels to Pittsburgh to take on the Duquesne Dukes. The game will be broadcasted nationally on CBS Sports Network.
 
George Mason and Duquesne will meet for the 15th time in program history, as the Patriots look for their first road win over the Dukes in the series. The Dukes hold an 11-3 record over Mason all-time, including 10-1 in Atlantic 10 play. Last year in Fairfax, the Patriots picked up their first conference win over Duquesne since Mason joined the A10 in 2013-14.
 
The last time out, Mason was just edged by Rhode Island on the road, 70-68. On the other hand, Duquesne picked up their second Atlantic 10 win of the season over Dayton in dominating fashion, downing the Flyers 70-42 on the road.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• On Tuesday, freshman Kennedy Harris was tabbed the A-10 Rookie of the Week for the second time in her career for her 11-point, 6-rebound performance over La Salle
• Sonia Smith posted her third 20-point performance in the last seven contests to lead the team. She is averaging a team-best 13.8 points (10th, A-10) and 3.0 assists (10th, A-10)
• The Patriots lead the Atlantic 10 in rebounding with 44.3 boards per game (17th nationally), a 5.69 turnover margin (18th nationally) and are forcing opponents into a league best 20.5 turnovers per game (27th nationally) 
• Mason boasts one of the top benches in the country, currently sitting at 2nd nationally with 36.8 bench points per game. Walton leads the way with a team-second-best 11.1 points per game.

 
 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Duquesne was picked to finish fifth the Atlantic 10 preseason poll this season, and has lived up to that pick by opening conference play at 2-0. In the conference opener against Fordham on Dec. 5, the Dukes edged the Rams 75-73 in an overtime thriller. Most recently they dominated Dayton, 70-42, on the road. In non-conference play, Duquesne went 5-6, including a win over common opponent Pitt, 56-55, in November. 
 
Megan McConnell has separated herself as the Dukes' do-it-all player, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. The junior guard averages 12.5 points (16th, A-10), 8.1 rebounds (5th, A-10), 4.7 assists (2nd, A-10) and 2.5 steals (1st, A-10) per game this season. She has tallied three double-doubles and double-figure scoring in nine out of 13 games, with 20 points twice. She also ranks in the top-20 nationally in assist/turnover ratio. 
 
Two other players average double-figure scoring this season, as Nae Bernard (11.8) and Tess Myers (10.8) have established themselves as two of the best three-point shooters in the conference. 38 of Myer's 45 field goals are three-pointers and she ranks first in the A-10 in three-pointers per game with 3.2. Both players rank in the top-15 of the conference in three-point percentage and both rank in the top-5 in makes per game. 
 
As a team, Duquesne is second in the conference with 9.2 three-point makes per game and fourth in three-point percentage at .350. The Dukes are also second in the Atlantic 10 with 5.31 blocks per game, led by Precious Johnson's 1.5 per game (3rd, A-10). 
 
UP NEXT 
The Patriots will return home to EagleBank Arena for a midweek match up with Davidson on Jan. 10. Tip-off with the Wildcats is set for 7 p.m.