FAIRFAX, V.A. — In a season full of program-firsts and record breaking performances, there are still a couple of feats attainable for George Mason.
The women’s basketball team’s best regular season ever has come to a close. Called by fans as ‘the Natalie Butler season’ it has already been an incredible ride for the team and the coaching staff.
“It was an exciting season just because there was something constantly sizzling. Its been a lot of fun and I can say that wholeheartedly,” said assistant coach Tajama Ngongba.
Relative greatness has already been achieved in the record book. With the chance to add on to their total, the team has a program-best 22 wins on the year. They have their best finish in the Atlantic 10 standings in their five-year history (fourth). The team has a winning season for the first time since 2004. In one year they have more Atlantic 10 Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week awards than the past four years combined.
Record books and in-season conference recognitions are one thing though. Playing for a championship is another.
“What can you say about the records we broke, and the firsts and all those things. But I think the good thing about this team is that they have handled it very maturely and understand what still lies ahead of them,” head coach Nyla Milleson said.
But it all starts and ends with Natalie Butler.
Many George Mason fans will remember seeing the All-American candidate roll out double-double after double-double, as perhaps the best ever to wear the Green and Gold.
She has recorded 29 straight double-doubles, which is the third longest in NCAA history. Averaging 19 points and 17 rebounds a contest as a center, no one in Mason history has accomplished what she has done.
The next generation of Mason Nation will recognize the name and look at the stats to see that it was a special season. She and this program will go down in Mason-lore as the pinnacle of the program’s success. But even with the regular season over, the team doesn’t know the gravity on what they have done this year.
“To be able to come out and have the program history record for most wins in a season is incredible. I don’t think that really has registered to everyone yet. We just made history as a team, that’s pretty phenomenal,” said Butler.
For Butler, playing in her graduate season with the Patriots and under Milleson is a “privilege” and the most fun she has had playing basketball.
BRACKETOLOGY PROJECTION FOR GEORGE MASON
In her fifth season as the head coach, Milleson has already made a dramatic impact on the program. She helped lead the transition into a new conference, but it has taken years for tangible results.
“Its been a long process. Its been a tough process, but sitting here today its been very filling, very gratifying to finally get to the point where its paying off in wins,” Milleson said. “There are so many other things that we internally feel like we were at a great place even before this year. Now we’ve been able to add the addition of being able to see the results in the win-loss column.”
“Its the season that really starts our foundation. From here, we build,” Ngongba said. “We have a great foundation. We still have a pretty good team outside of Tayler Dodson and Natalie Butler.”
Building is right after the 2017-18 season. In a month, graduate transfer Butler and senior Dodson will have played their last games for the Patriots. Two starters that account for not only their incredible leadership, but their combined 23 points, 22 rebounds, four assists each night will leave empty holes in the lineup.
A lot will fall on the three-star recruit Nicole Cardaño-Hillary who had an instant impact to the program this year. With 17.9 ppg, she has scored double figures in every contest this season. She also leads the A10 in steals and is the favorite to win Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year.
Sophomore sharp-shooters, Jacy Bolton (9.2 points, 42.4 percent FG) and Sarah Kaminski (6.9 points, 1.66 3pters a game) are going to have to continue to develop into bigger roles. Their bench is deep, with forwards Camarie Gatling (4.6 points, 3.1 rebounds), Casey Davis, and Allie McCool learning under the playmaker in Butler. All of which have a huge whole to fill on the roster.
Not getting ahead of things though, this Tuesday, the Patriots begin their second season with a first round match-up against No. 13 St. Bonaventure in the Atlantic 10 tournament. For the first time in the A10, they will have a postseason game at home.
This game marks the next chapter in George Mason’s historic season. As with every team, they hope it is their longest chapter. A year ago the team’s goal was to get to Richmond, but there is a lot more on the horizon in 2018.
On top of contending for an Atlantic 10 championship, a postseason bid to the WNIT is within reach. To do so, they are going to need to continue to do what they have done all season and that all starts with the 6-5 Butler.
“[Natalie’s best] is still yet to come,” said Ngongba, a former All-American at George Washington. “She has turned up her mental approach another notch. I’m anxious to see how she turns up her game another notch. I know there is so much more she can do. She is going to have a phenomenal [Atlantic 10] tournament.”
