George Mason (17-8, 12-2 A-10) vs. Loyola Chicago (12-13, 8-6 A-10)
WHEN: Wednesday, February 18, at 6 p.m CT/7 p.m. ET
WHERE: Gentile Arena; Chicago, Ill.
LIVE VIDEO: ESPN+
LIVE STATS: LINK
LIVE AUDIO: GoMason Digital Network

CHICAGO, Ill. - The George Mason women's basketball team will hits the road to play the Loyola Chiago Ramblers on Wednesday, February 18. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with tip-off set for 6 p.m. CT/7 p.m ET with Sam Brief and Kate Constable on the call. Simon Burts will be on the GoMason Digital Network starting at approximately 5:45 p.m. CT/6:45 p.m. ET.

This is the fifth matchup between the Patriots and Ramblers. George Mason has won all four games between the two teams. 

SCOUTING THE RAMBLERS
Loyola Chicago is averaging 62.4 points per game while shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 31.8 percent from three-point range, and 71.5 percent at the free throw line. The Ramblers are averaging 12.6 assists and 14.8 turnovers per contest, along with 32.9 rebounds per game, including 10.4 offensive boards. Individually, the team is led in scoring by Sitori Tanin with 13.7 points per game, followed by Jayla Johnson at 10.9 points per game and Maya Chandler at 9.6 points per game. Tanin is shooting 45.3 percent from the floor, while Johnson is shooting 39.8 percent and Chandler 41.5 percent.

On the glass, Loyola Chicago averages 32.9 rebounds per game compared to 34.7 rebounds allowed. The Ramblers record 6.1 steals and 3.4 blocks per game. Defensively, they are allowing 66.8 points per game while opponents are shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 33.7 percent from three-point range. Loyola Chicago forces 13.2 turnovers per game.

In the Atlantic 10 rankings, Loyola Chicago ranks 11th in scoring offense (62.4), ninth in field goal percentage (41.2%), and 10th in three-point percentage (31.8%). The Ramblers rank eighth in free throw percentage (71.5%) and 12th in rebounding offense (32.9). Defensively, Loyola Chicago ranks ninth in scoring defense (66.8) and 10th in field goal percentage defense (43.9%).

• Freshman Mary Amoateng was named A-10 Rookie of the Week for the week of February 2 for her career-high 17-point performance vs. the Richmond Spiders
• The Patriots were named the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Team of the Week for the week of January 26
• Zahirah Walton was named to the 2026 Becky Hammon Player of the Year Midseason Watch List
• Head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis won her 400th career game on January 4, 2026 vs. VCU, 68-58
• The Patriot's January 25th game vs. Richmond was postponed to February 16th due to weather
• Head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis is the longest tenured Black female head coach in D1 (27 years)
• 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
• 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 seven 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), Kailani Merrell (Daytona, Fla./Sprunce Creek), 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. 

UP NEXT
The Patriots return home for Senior Day vs. George Washington on Saturday, February 21 at 3 p.m. A live stream will be available on ESPN+ and the Monumental Network.