George Mason (14-3, 4-2 A-10) at La Salle (7-12, 1-5 A-10)
WHEN: Saturday, January 18, at 2 p.m.
WHERE: John Glaser Arena; Philadelphia, Pa.  
2023-24 RECORDS: Patriots (23-8, 14-4 A-10), Explorers (8-22, 5-13 A-10)  
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Patriots will head to Philadelphia to face the La Salle Explorers on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at John Glaser Arena. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ and a radio broadcast will be available on the GoMason Digital Network.

George Mason is 7-11 historically with La Salle. The two teams first faced off in 1994 when the Explorers hosted the Patriots and won the game, 77-65. The two teams played once more in the 90s before a long break in their history. They resumed their matchups when the Patriots joined the A-10 in the 2013-14 season. Since then, the Explorers lead the series 7-9. The Patriots are on a two-game win streak including their matchup last season where they won, 74-37.
 
PATRIOT POINTS

• Sophomore Kennedy Harris and junior Zahirah Walton have led the Patriots is scoring so far this season, averaging 15.3 ppg and 12.8 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 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 currently stand at #50.
• 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 EXPLORERS
The La Salle Explorers are sitting at 7-12 overall (1-4 in the A-10) with their sole conference win coming aginst Loyola Chicago, 55-45. They are currently on a six game losing streak. The last time these two teams played each other, the Patriots prevailed 74-37.
 
Two players are currently averaging double figures in scoring for the Explorers, led by guard Ashleigh Connor, who averages 12.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. She leads the team in points. free throws, rebounds, and assists. Sophomore guard Aryss Macktoon averages 10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. She leads the team in steals and is third in the A-10.
 
Another notable player is Joan Quinn, who leads the team in made three-pointers per game (1.1) and averages 7.9 points per game. Ayisse Magassa is the team's block leader, and she averages 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
 
As a team, La Salle is third in the Atlantic 10 conference in steals per game. They also rank 5^th in offensive rebounds per game and 6^th in turnovers forced per game in the conference.
 
UP NEXT
The Patriots will return home on Wednesday, Jan. 22 to take on the Davidson Wildcats. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at EagleBank Arena with broadcast available on ESPN+ and radio on GoMason Digital.