George Mason (23-6, 14-4) vs. Duquesne (19-11, 13-5)
WHEN: Friday, 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: Henrico Sports & Events Center; Richmond, Va.
2022-23 RECORDS: Patriots (16-15, 8-8 A-10), Dukes (19-12, 8-8 A-10)  
SERIES RECORD: Duquesne leads 11-4
LAST MEETING: Mason defeated Duquesne, 101-74, in Pittsburgh on Jan. 7, 2024
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK
 
RICHMOND, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team is set to begin its' quest for the program's first Atlantic 10 title tomorrow when it opens in the quarterfinal round against fifth-seeded Duquesne.
 
The Dukes opened their postseason play earlier today in the Second Round, when they downed No. 13 UMass, 81-57. 
 
The last time the two teams met in Pittsburgh in the regular season, Mason exploded for a 101-74 victory. Sonia Smith and Kennedy Harris combined for 53 points in the win, with Smith tallying the first 30-point performance of her career. Friday's contest will also mark the first postseason meeting between the two programs.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis was named a Mid-Major Coach of the Year Finalist by Her Hoop Stats on Thursday
• Sonia Smith was named the Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player and to the All-Conference First Team. Zahirah Walton was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, to the All-Conference Third Team and the All-Rookie Team. Kennedy Harris was tabbed to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.
• Smith leads the team with 14.9 points per game (8th, A-10) and is eighth in the Atlantic 10 with 15.2 points per game against league opponents. She's also second on the team with 3.0 assists per game (11th, A-10) 
• The Patriots lead the A-10 with 40.0 boards per game, a 5.48 turnover margin (15th nationally), a 13.4-point scoring margin (30th nationally), while forcing opponent into a league-high 18.8 turnovers
• Mason is second in 3-point defense, at 28.5%, 9.28 steals per game and 14.7 offensive rebounds (22nd nationally)
• Mason boasts one of the top benches in the country, at fourth nationally with 30.6 bench points per game. Walton leads the way with a team-second-best 11.0 points per game.

 
SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Duquesne earned the No. 5 seed in the Atlantic 10 Championship after finishing the regular season at 13-5 in A-10 and 18-11 overall, and opened in the Second Round against UMass. The Dukes advanced by a score of 81-57 on Friday afternoon. Atlantic 10 First Team selection Megan McConnell led the team with a double-double performance on 21 points and 13 rebounds.
 
The Dukes are led by Atlantic 10 First Team and Defensive Team pick Megan McConnell, who led the team with 13.2 points (12th, A-10), 8.6 rebounds per game (3rd, A-10), 4.7 assists (3^rd, A-10) and 1.9 steals (6th, A-10) per game. The junior guard has been playing some of her best basketball as of late, scoring in double figures, including two 20-point performances, in the last six games.
 
Naelle Bernard and Amaya Hamilton also contribute 9.0+ points per game for the Dukes. Defensively, Precious Johnson leads Duquesne with 34 blocks (6^th, A-10). As a team, Duquesne ranked second in the conference in three-point makes per game (8.4), third in blocks per game (4.21) and fourth in scoring offense (69.6). 
 
UP NEXT
The winner of the Quarterfinal game will play the winner of tomorrow's first quarterfinal game between top-seeded Richmond and No. 8 Loyola Chicago. Tip-off for Semifinal One is set for 11 a.m. on CBS Sports Network.