George Mason (0-0) vs. Temple (0-0)
WHEN: Monday, November 3, at 7 p.m. ET
WHERE: Liacouras Center; Philadelphia, Pa.
2024-25 RECORDS: Patriots (27-6, 14-4 A-10), Owls (20-11, 13-5 AAC)
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The George Mason women's basketball team is set to open the 2025-26 season on Monday, Nov. 3 at Temple University inside the Liacouras Center. Monday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with tip-off set for 7 p.m ET with Jon Mozes and Nicki Jones on the call. Tommy Buckles will be on the GoMason Digital Network starting at approximately 6:45 p.m. ET.
George Mason is facing Temple for the second time in program history, the first match up being in December of 1983, in which the Owls took the victory, 91-56.
A season ago, the Patriots went 27-6, 14-4 in A-10 play, winning the Atlantic 10 Tournament for the first time and earning its first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament in program history. In the A-10 Tournament, they defeated Saint Louis 87-57 in the quarterfinals, then beat Davidson 63-50 in the semifinals, and clinched the title by topping Saint Joseph's 73-58. In the NCAA Tournament, they were eliminated in the First Round, ultimately falling 59-94 to Florida State.
PATRIOT POINTS
- The Patriots won the Atlantic 10 championship for the first time in program history in 2024-25, giving them their first NCAA Tournament berth
- Three Patriots were named to the 2025-26 A-10 Preseason teams: Zahirah Walton and Kennedy Harris were named to the Preseason First Team and Hawa Komara was named to the Preseason Second Team. Walton and Komara were also named to the Preseason All-Defensive Team.
- The Patriots were picked to finish second in the A-10 Preseason Poll
- Head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis was named to the Kathy Delaney-Smith Coach of the Year Watch List for the third year in a row
- Zahirah Walton and Kennedy Harris were named to the Becky Hammon Player of the Year Watch List for the 2025-26 season
- Redshirt juniors Page Greenburg and Zahirah Walton and junior Kennedy Harris were named team captains for the 2025-26 season
- Two transfer graduate students joined the Patriots this season: MJ Johnson (Texas A&M/Ball St.) and Hawa Komara (Rhode Island)
- There are six freshman making their collegiate debutes with the Green & Gold this season: Sanyiah Littlejohn (Philadephia, Pa./Lansdale Catholic), Kayla Johnson (Upper Marlboro, Md./Elizabeth Seton), Mary Amoateng (Baltimore, Md./Bishop McNamara), Matilde Motta (Saronno, Italy/S.M. Legnani), Leah Keyes (Stafford, Va./Virginia Academy), and Sara Blair (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas).
- The George Mason coaching staff added a few new pieces and promoted a two key staff members this off season. Demetria Frank was promoted to Associate Head Coach and Nigel Bowden was promoted to Director of Basketball Operations. Lauren Stack and Kate McCarney joined as graduate assistants, and Brandon Stewart was appointed Director of Player Personnel.
SCOUTING THE OWLS
Temple enters the 2025-26 season following a strong 2024–25 campaign in which the Owls posted a 20-11 overall record and a 13–5 mark in American Athletic Conference play. They averaged 67.4 points per game while allowing 63.3, finishing fourth in the league in scoring margin (+4.2). Temple's offense relied on balance and efficiency at the foul line, leading the AAC in free throw percentage at 73.7 percent. They ranked sixth in the conference in scoring offense and three-point shooting (32.2 percent) while also generating nearly 19 bench points per game. The Owls' production was led by guard Tiarra East, who averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest, and sharpshooter Tarriyonna Gary, who shot 38.8 percent from beyond the arc and ranked third in the conference in three-point accuracy. Both East and Gary graduated after the 2024-25 season.
Defensively, Temple proved disruptive and opportunistic. They ranked second in the AAC and 59th nationally in steals per game (9.7), forcing nearly 19 turnovers per contest and holding opponents to 63.3 points on 40.5 percent shooting. The Owls' defensive rebounding and turnover pressure often fueled their transition game, where quick guards like Tristen Taylor (3.6 assists per game) and East thrived.
Statistically, Temple's strengths rested in defensive activity and depth. The Owls' turnover margin (+3.32) led the conference, and their 38.8 rebounds per game ranked among the league's top six. While their overall field goal percentage (39.1) and assist rate (13.1 per game) placed in the middle tier nationally, their defensive consistency and late-season momentum—winning their final six games—position them as a resilient, balanced team heading into 2025–26. With multiple starters returning and a proven ability to create extra possessions through defense and hustle, Temple is poised to remain a steady contender in the American Athletic Conference race.
UP NEXT...
The Patriots will hit the road against James Madison on Thursday, Nov. 6. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. inside of Atlantic Bank Union Center.
