George Mason (11-3, 2-1) vs. Davidson (12-2, 2-1)
WHEN: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.
2022-23 RECORDS: Patriots (16-15, 8-8 A-10), Wildcats (14-16, 6-8 A-10)
SERIES RECORD: Davidson leads, 6-5
LAST MEETING: Mason defeated Davidson in overtime, 62-58, in Fairfax, Va. on Jan. 28, 2023
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK
FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team is back in action in Fairfax with a midweek match-up with one of the top teams in the conference in the Davidson Wildcats.
The last time out, Mason registered just its' fourth 100-point game in its' Division I era and seventh overall, in a 101-75 rout of Duquesne on the road. On the other hand, Davidson lost a defensive 65-55 battle at home against VCU, dropping its' first A-10 game of the season.
George Mason and Davidson are set to meet for the 12th time in the series, with all 11 previous matchups coming as members of the Atlantic 10. The teams are relatively evenly matched, with Davidson holding a slight 6-5 record over Mason. The Patriots are riding a two-game win streak over the Wildcats, including an overtime thriller in EagleBank last year. Mason holds an advantage in Fairfax, with four of its' five wins over Davidson coming at home.
PATRIOT POINTS
- Mason boasts a No. 68 NET ranking this week and joins Davidson (46), Richmond (51), Saint Joseph's (61) and VCU (65) as Atlantic 10 teams in the top-70 of the rankings
- On Monday, the Patriots swept the Atlantic 10 honors, with Sonia Smith picking up her first A-10 Player of the Week honor and Kennedy Harris garnering her third Rookie of the Week and second-straight
- Smith posted the first 30-point performance of her career with 9 rebounds and 8 assists to lead the team on Saunday. Off the bench, Harris dropped a career-high 23 points with 3 assists, 2 rebounds and 2 steals against Duquesne
- Against Duquesne, Mason set the school record for three-pointers made with 18, besting the previous best of 15 set in 2004 against Hofstra
- Ta'Viyanna Habib leads the team and ranks among the top of the conference in shooting, converting 46.1% from the field (12th, A-10) and 42.5% from beyond the arc for 9.5 points per game
- The Patriots lead the Atlantic 10 scoring offense (76.1), rebounding with 43.6 boards per game (24th nationally), a 5.43 turnover margin (31st nationally) while forcing opponents into a league best 19.6 turnovers
- Mason boasts one of the top benches in the country, currently sitting at 2nd nationally with 36.5 bench points per game. Zahirah Walton leads the way with a team-second-best 11.1 points per game.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Davidson is off to one of the best starts in program history and has recieved votes in the national polls for the last several weeks. The Wildcats are 12-2, including 2-1 in Atlantic 10 games, with notable wins over Wake Forest and then-No. 16 Duke. Davidson also hung in with No. 19 UNC, falling by just four points in Chapel Hill. Davidson suffered just their second loss of the season, and first in A-10 competition, to VCU the last time out.
Davidson boasts the two best shooters in the league, including the best three-point shooter in the NCAA this season. Mallorie Haines leads the Atlantic 10 and the nation in three-point percentage at 56.6% for a team-best 30 makes. Millie Prior is one of four players averaging double-figure scoring with 11.9 points, and leads the team and conference with a 61.3% shooting efficiency.
Suzi-Rose Deegan leads the 'Cats with 14.0 points and 1.1 steals per game in a team-high 29.6 minutes. Elle Sutphin (12.1) and Charlisle Dunn (11.6) join Prior and Deegan in double figure scoring for the team. Off ball, Issy Morgan leads the team with 4.2 assists per game (5th, A-10) and 1.1 steals per game. Defensively, Prior also leads the team in rebounding with 7.6 boards per game (6th, A-10) and 2.1 blocks per game (1st, A-10).
As a team, Davidson boasts the second-best scoring defense in the league, allowing just 53.2 points per game. Their 72.3 points per game gives it the best scoring margin in the A-10 at 19.1 points. The Wildcats are also second in the league in field goal percentage at 46.4%.
UP NEXT
After a break over the weekend, Mason will return to EagleBank Arena next Wednesday, Jan. 17, to welcome the defending Atlantic 10 champions, Saint Louis. Tip-off with the Billikens is set for 7 p.m.
