Patriots Host Fordham for A-10 Opener on Wednesday

Women's Basketball 12/2/2025 3:49:00 PM

George Mason (5-4) vs. Fordham (6-3)
WHEN: Wednesday, December 3, at 7 p.m. ET
WHERE: EagleBank Arena; Fairfax, Va.
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network
GAME NOTES: LINK

FAIRFAX, Va. - The George Mason women's basketball team hosts the Fordham Rams to open their A-10 conference schedule on Wednesday, December 3. The game will be broadcast on the ESPN+ with tip-off set for 7 p.m ET with Steve Kolbe and Debbie Taneyhill on the call. Tommy Buckles will be on the GoMason Digital Network starting at approximately 6:45 p.m.

The Patriots and Fordham have met 17 times before, with the Rams leading the series 11-6. George Mason has won the last three games in a row, including last year's matchup 70-43.

SCOUTING THE RAMS

Fordham enters play with a 6–3 record, including a 5–1 mark at home and 1–2 on the road. Through nine games, the Rams average 68.3 points while allowing 62.0. They shoot 39.1 percent from the field and 25.4 percent from three on 18.8 attempts per game. Fordham adds 14.0 made free throws per game at 70.4 percent. The Rams post 42.6 rebounds per contest, including 17.2 on the offensive glass, and have a +5.8 rebounding margin. They average 12.3 assists, 19.8 turnovers, 10.8 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game.

Alexis Black leads the roster with 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 2.6 steals per game while shooting 41.4 percent from the field, 40.4 percent from three, and 86.8 percent from the line. She has attempted 128 field goals, 57 threes, and 68 free throws, ranking nationally in each category. Ornella Niankan adds 8.7 points and a team-high 6.7 rebounds per game on 51.7 percent shooting. Ugne Sirtautaite and Emma Wilson-Saltos contribute 8.7 and 6.2 points per game, respectively, combining for 92 total rebounds. Additional production comes from Maysen Hill (4.7 ppg), Tia Morgan (4.7 ppg), Carryn Easley (4.1 ppg), and several players providing depth scoring and rebounding.

Nationally, Fordham ranks in the top 100 in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds per game, free throws made per game, and turnovers forced per game. The Rams stand second in the A-10 in rebounds per game, offensive rebounds per game, and bench points per game, while leading the league in field goal percentage defense and turnovers forced. Fordham also ranks top-five in the conference in steals per game and scoring defense. In three-point attempts, three-pointers made, three-point percentage, turnovers per game, and fouls per game, the Rams fall in the lower third of the league statistically.

PATRIOT POINTS

Zahirah Walton scored 42 points vs. Murray St. on Nov 28 and 20 points vs. #13 Ole Miss at the Daytona Beach Classic where she was named MVP for her performances.
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 debuts 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 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.