George Mason (6-0) vs. Maryland (6-0)
WHEN: Saturday, November 30, at 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Alumni Hall; Annapolis, Md.  
2023-24 RECORDS: Patriots (23-8, 14-4 A-10), Terps (19-14, 9-9 Big Ten)  
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK
 
George Mason (6-0) at Navy (6-0)
WHEN: Sunday, December 1, at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Alumni Hall; Annapolis, Md.  
2023-24 RECORDS: Patriots (23-8, 14-4 A-10), Mids (14-17, 9-9 Patriot League)  
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – George Mason heads to Annapolis, Md. to play in the Navy Classic at the Naval Academy. The team will play on Saturday, Nov. 30 against #11 Maryland at 3:30 p.m. and on Sunday, Dec. 1 against the host Navy at 1 p.m.

This will be the ninth matchup between George Mason and Maryland, with the Terrapins leaving victorious from each of the previous games. The most recent matchup came last season on December 3, 2023, where the Patriots played the Terps close for much of the game, but Maryland pulled away at the end, winning the matchup, 86-77.
 
The Patriots and Midshipmen are 8-8 historically. Their last match up was November 29, 2021 when Navy came to Fairfax. The Patriots won that game 72-68. Both teams have won more matchups on their home court when playing the other (Patriots are 5-2 at home, Navy is 6-3 at home), but George Mason has won the last four matchups. Both teams entered the weekend 6-0 on the season.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Sophomore Kennedy Harris and junior Zahirah Walton have led the Patriots is scoring so far this season, averaging 15.4 ppg and 11.0 ppg, respectively.
• Two of the Patriots first four wins came against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in the last two years: Monmouth and Marshall.
• George Mason is currently in the "First Four Out" group per ESPN's Bracketology.
• The Patriots finished last season 23-8, 14-4 in the A-10, one of the best season in George Mason women's basketball history. The WBIT postseason birth is just the fourth postseason bid in program history.
• Zahirah Walton was named to the 2024-25 preseason Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team. Nalani Kaysia, Ta'Viyanna Habib, and Kennedy Harris were named to the preseason Atlantic 10 All-Conference Third Team.
• Head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis was named to the Mid-Major Coach of the Year Watch List by Her Hoop Stats
• The Patriots welcome four newcomers to the 2024-25 roster. That group includes two transfers: graduate student Khamya McNeal (Stetson/Syracuse) and sophomore Louis Volker (Missouri State). LeAire Nicks and Sarah Oduro will join the ranks as freshmen this season.

SCOUTING THE TERPS
The Terps have started the season 6-0, with big wins against #11 Duke (85-80) and Syracuse (84-73). Maryland was picked to finish 4th in the 18-team Big Ten. They are one of seven undefeated teams remaining in the conference.
 
Four players are currently averaging double figures in scoring for Maryland: junior Kaylene Smikle, graduate student Allie Kubek, senior Shyanne Sellers, and senior Christina Dalce.
 
Smikle currently averages 19.7 points at a .543 clip and 4.0 rebounds. She's averaging 2.5 three pointers per game at a .682 clip. She leads the team in points, made three pointers, made free throws, and steals.
 
Seller currently averages 10.7 points at a .464 clip. She adds 4.3 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game. She leads the team in assists (37) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.64), and is second on the team in steals (9).
 
Maryland is an experienced team, with just four underclassmen and three graduate students. The Terps are currently 4th in the country in rebound margin (+18.2), 6th in three-point percentage (43.4), and 11th in field goal percentage (50.1). Smikle leads the nation in three-point percentage, shooting 68.2% from beyond the arc.
 
SCOUTING THE MIDS
The Mids have started the season 6-0, with close victories against Iona (55-53) and Radford (78-73 OT). Navy was picked to finish 7th in the 10-team Patriot League. However, they are the only undefeated team remaining in the conference.
 
Two players are currently averaging double figures in scoring for Navy: sophomore Zanai Barnett-Gay and freshman Mary Gibbson. Barnett-Gay averages 16.8 points per game at a .405 clip. She adds 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.3 steals per game through the first six games. Gibbson is putting up 12 points per game at a .481 clip. She's leading the team in three-pointers made with 15 so far this season, twice as many as anyone else.
 
Junior Kate Samson is the Mids' blocks leader, averaging 2 per game. She also averages 8.8 points and 5.7 rebounds.
 
Navy is a very young team, with no seniors on the roster and nine underclassmen. Despite that, they go into this weekend as one of 34 remaining undefeated D1 teams. They are currently 11th in the nation in bench points per game (35.8), and 35th in rebounds per game (43.5), 35th in steals per game (12.0), 39th in three point percentage (37.6), and 39th in blocks per game (5.0).
 
UP NEXT
George Mason kicks off its Atlantic 10 conference play with a trip to DC to play regional rival, George Washington. The teams will play on Tuesday, December 3 at 6 p.m. Broadcast will be available on ESPN+.