George Mason (9-1) vs. UMBC (6-4)
WHEN: Friday, December 20, at 2 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.  
2023-24 RECORDS: Patriots (23-8, 14-4 A-10), Retrievers (10-19, 6-10 AEC)  
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 UMBC Retrievers on Friday, December 20, at 2 p.m. at EagleBank Arena.
 
The Patriots and Retrievers are 7-2 historically, with the Patriots' only two losses coming in 2008 and 2011. In their last matchup in 2017, the Green & Gold were victorious, winning 58-38. That win moved the Patriots to 10-2, which was the best start since 1987-88. That 2017-18 team went on to play in the WNIT for just the third time in program history. This season the Patriots are 10-1 which is the best start in program history, and they look to move to 11-1 with a win on Friday.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Sophomore Kennedy Harris and junior Zahirah Walton have led the Patriots is scoring so far this season, averaging 16.0 ppg and 12.5 ppg, respectively.
• The Patriots are 10-1 for the first time in program history. The closest the team had come to this start prior was in 2017-18 when they started 10-2.
• 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 wins over Georgetown and UMES. #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.
• Two of the Patriots first four wins came against teams that made the NCAA Tournament in the last two years: Monmouth and Marshall.
• Prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, Mason was chosen to finish third out of 15 teams in the conference, their highest preseason pick since joining the Atlantic 10.
• 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.
• 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.

 
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC is currently 6-4 on the season standing fifth in the America East Conference (AEC). They've won their last three matchups, with their last loss coming to Colgate, 49-75.
 
Three players are currently averaging double figures in scoring for the Retrievers. Graduate student Jordan Lewis averages 11.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. She leads the team in points, blocks, and made three-pointers. Graduate student guard Jaliena Sanchez is second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. She is first on the team in free throws and steals.
 
Another notable player is AEC Player of the Week Jaden Walker who leads the team in rebounding, averaging 6.6 a game along with 10.3 points per game. She was named AEC Player of the Week on Monday, Dec. 9, after averaging 14 points on 58% shooting and 10.5 rebounds last week.
 
UMBC is fourth in the nation in three-point percentage defense, holding their opponents to an average of 21.7% shooting from behind the arc. They are 34^th in scoring defense, holding teams to an average of 54.9 points per game.
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots take their longest break of the year before they kick off the bulk of their conference play. The Green & Gold will be back in action in the new year on January 2, 2025 against Saint Joseph's. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. and TV broadcast will be available on ESPN+.