George Mason (12-3, 2-2 A-10) at Rhode Island (7-9, 2-1 A-10)
WHEN: Sunday, January 12, at 12 p.m.
WHERE: Ryan Center; Kingston R.I.  
2023-24 RECORDS: Patriots (23-8, 14-4 A-10), Richmond (21-14, 10-8 A-10)  
LIVE VIDEO: CBS Sports Network
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK

KINGSTON, R.I. – The Patriots will head north to Rhode Island where they'll take on the Rams on Sunday, Jan. 12. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. at the Thomas M. Ryan Center. Sunday's game will be broadcast nationally on the CBS Sports Network with Julianne Viani- Braen and Alex Del Barrio on the call. In addition, radio coverage will be available on the GoMason Digital Network, beginning at approximately 11:45 a.m.

George Mason is 4-7 historically with Rhode Island. The two teams first played when the Patriots joined the A-10 in the 2013-14 season. The Rams have won the last five matchups and the Patriots haven't won since 2019 when they won 75-69.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Sophomore Kennedy Harris and junior Zahirah Walton have led the Patriots is scoring so far this season, averaging 15.5 ppg and 12.1 ppg, respectively.
• Harris was named A-10 Player of the Week for the week of November 25, 2024 after averaging 25.5 ppg on 51% shooting, 5.5 RPG, 3.5 apg, and 2.0 spg that week
•  The Green & Gold are currently 10th in turnovers per game (11.7), 12th in the nation in turnover margin (8.6), 19th in three-point percentage (36.9), and 33rd in offensive rebounds per game (14.8)
• The Jan. 2 game vs. Saint Joseph's set a George Mason women's basketball attendance record at 3,354.
• 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 "Next Four Out" group per ESPN's Bracketology.
• The Patriots have only ever started the season 6-0 twice: last year and this year. In both instances, the team's first loss came to Maryland.
•  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. They currenly stand at #48.
• 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.
• 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.

SCOUTING THE RAMS
The Rhode Island Rams were on a three-game winning streak before they dropped their most recent Atlantic 10 matchup against Davidson, 55-65. Sitting at 7-9 overall (2-1 in the A-10), the Rams are 3-4 on road games coming into Sunday. The last time these two teams played each other, Rhode Island pulled away with a victory at home, 70-68.
 
Two players are currently averaging double figures in scoring for the Rams, led by transfer center Harsimran Kaur, who averages 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. She is tied for first on the team in blocks with 15, ranking her eighth in the conference, averaging 0.94 per game. Harsimran also ranks second in the A-10 in doubles doubles with five and eighth for field goal percentage (46.1%). Senior guard Sophie Phillips averages 10.0 points and 1.0 rebounds per game. She is ranked first in the conference and 20th in the nation for three-point attempts (114) and ninth in the conference for three-point percentage (30.7%).
 
Another notable player is Anaelle Dutat, who leads the team in rebounds per game (8.2) and averages 7.6 points per game. She is ranked seventh in the A-10 and 98th in the nation for rebounds per game (8.2). She also leads the team in steals (31), which ranks her fifth in the conference. Sophia Vital averages 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game. She leads the team in assists (68), ranking her second in the A-10 and 69th in the nation.
 
As a team, Rhode Island currently boasts the best offensive-rebounding team in the Atlantic 10 conference, averaging 16 per game, ranking them 13th in the nation. The Rams also lead the conference in blocks per game (4.1) and have the second-best scoring defense in the conference (55.1).
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots will return home on Wednesday, Jan. 15 to take on the Loyola Chicago Ramblers. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at EagleBank Arena with broadcast available on ESPN+ and radio on GoMason Digital.