George Mason (13-3, 3-2 A-10) vs. Loyola Chiacgo (10-7, 204 A-10)
WHEN: Wednesday, January 15, at 7 p.m.
WHERE: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.  
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
DIGITAL PROGRAM:  LINK

FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason women's basketball team is back in action on Wednesday, January 15 at 7 p.m. at EagleBank Arena where the Patriots will take on the Loyola Chicago in their sixth conference matchup of the season.
 
George Mason is 2-0 historically with Loyola Chicago. The two teams did not play each other until the Ramblers joined the A-10 conference in the 2022-23 season. Over the past two years, the Patriots have traveled to Chicago twice and won both games. This will be the Ramblers first trip to Fairfax.
 
Sunday's game will be broadcast live on the ESPN+ with Steve Kolbe and Jennifer Surlas. In addition, radio coverage on the GoMason Digital Network, beginning at approximately 6:45 p.m.

PATRIOT POINTS

• Sophomore Kennedy Harris and junior Zahirah Walton have led the Patriots in scoring so far this season, averaging 15.7 ppg and 12.7 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 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 currently stand at #51.
• George Mason is currently listed as a "First Four Out" team in the NCAA Tournament per ESPN's Bracketology.
• 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.
• Prior to the start of the 2024-25 season, Mason was picked 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.

 
SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS
The Loyola Chicago Ramblers have two conference wins over St. Bonaventure and George Washington. Sitting at 10-7 overall (2-4 in the A-10), the Ramblers are 3-2 on the road coming into Wednesday. These Patriots and Ramblers have only played twice, and the Patriots have won both competitions.
 
The Ramblers are led by junior Emma Theodorsson who averages 9.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. She is first on the team in points (9.9 pts/g), free throws (2.0 FTM/g), and rebounds (4.9 reb/g). Graduate student Naelle Bernard averages 9.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. She leads the team in three-point field goals and assist-to-turnover ratio.
 
Another notable player is senior Jess Finney, who averages 9.4 points (third most on the team) and 3.1 rebounds. Graduate student Sitori Tanin has also made herself know, leading the team and the A-10 in blocks (1.1 blks/g).
 
As a team, Loyola Chicago ranks third in the A-10 in turnover margin, and fourth in the conference in assists per game, three point attempts per game, turnovers forced per game. They currently stand 11th in the Atlantic 10.
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots will head to Philadelphia to face the LaSalle Explorers on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. with broadcast available on ESPN+ and radio on GoMason Digital.