George Mason (9-1) vs. University of Maryland Eastern Shore  (4-6)
WHEN: Saturday, December 14, at 3 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.  
2023-24 RECORDS: Patriots (23-8, 14-4 A-10), Hawks (15-15, 8-6 MEAC)  
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 will host the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks on Saturday, December 14, at 3 p.m. at EagleBank Arena.
 
The Patriots and Hawks are 7-1 historically, with the George Mason's only loss coming in 2013 in an overtime loss, 90-93. In their last matchup in 2018, the Green & Gold were victorious, winning 70-49.

After their win against Georgetown on Monday, the Patriots moved to 9-1 for the second time in program history – the first being in the 1992-93 season. A George Mason women's basketball team has never gone 10-1 to start the season, but that could change come Saturday afternoon. 
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Sophomore Kennedy Harris and junior Zahirah Walton have led the Patriots is scoring so far this season, averaging 16.3 ppg and 12.9 ppg, respectively
• Harris was named A-10 Player of the Week for the week of November 25, 2024
• The Patriots checked in at #45 in the first NET ranking of the 2024-25 season. They then moved to #40 after their win over GW and stayed there after their win over Georgetown. #40 is the highest NET ranking for the women's basketball program since the NET rankings debuted in 2018
• George Mason currently is listed as an #11-seed automatic qualifier in the NCAA Tournament per ESPN's Bracketology.
• Mason returns ten letter winners and three starters from last season's squad, including captains Paula Suárez and Nalani Kaysia, last year's A-10 Rookie of the Year Zahirah Walton, and preseason third team selections Ta'Viyanna Habib and Kennedy Harris.
• The Patriots welcome four newcomers, including two transfers, to the roster: Khamya McNeal (Stetson/Syracuse) and Louis Volker (Missouri State).
• The freshman class includes Sarah Oduro and LeAire Nicks.
• Mason returns three of its top five scorers from a season ago: Zahirah Walton (11.3), Ta'Viyanna Habib (10.0), and Kennedy Harris (9.4).
• Kaysia also returns after sitting out last year due to medical reasons.
• Last season, the Patriots posted their first 20+ win season since 2017-18 when the team went 24-10.
• Despite a heartbreaking loss in the quarterfinals of the A-10 Tournament, the Patriots received a bid to the inaugural WBIT tournament.
• Prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, Mason was chosen to finish third out of 15 teams in the conference, their highest preseason pick since joining the Atlantic 10.

 
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Maryland Eastern Shore is currently 4-6 on the season standing fifth in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). They dropped their most recent game against Arizona State University 57-64, in the Battle on the Banks tournament in Piscataway, New Jersey.
 
One player is currently averaging double figures in scoring for the Hawks, graduate student Zamara Haynes averages 14 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She leads the team in assists (18) and is second on the team in steals (18). She ranks second in the MEAC for free throws (36) and free throw attempts (59). Junior small forward Brianna Barnes is second on the team in scoring, averaging 8.3 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. She is second on the team in assists (16) and third in steals (14). 
 
Another notable player is Second Team All-MEAC member Mahogany Lester who leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.9 a game along with 7.0 points per game. She is one of two players who have started in all 10 games so far this year. Junior guard Ashanti Lynch averages 7.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. She ranks third In the MEAC for steals per game (2.1). Ce'nara Skanes averages 7.3 points per game and is second on the team in rebounding averaging 5.7 per game.
 
Maryland Eastern Shore is a good defensive team, ranking first in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference for defensive rebounds per game (26.4), first in total rebounds per game (40.1), and second for scoring defense (58.9). They are ranked first in the conference for field goal percentage defense (34.6%), ranking them 18th in the country. The Hawks are also ranked 18th in the country for free throws attempted per game (22.7).
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots will play their final game of 2024 against UMBC on Friday, December 20, at 2 p.m. TV broadcast is available on ESPN+ and radio is available on the GoMason Digital Network.