For the first time ever, George Mason (11-10, 3-5) will look to complete the season sweep over their rival George Washington (8-14, 4-5).
This game marks the 34th all-time meeting between these two schools, and the Colonials lead the series 24-9. That said, Mason defeated this GW team just three weeks ago in an 64-60 victory at the Smith Center.
Breaking Down George Washington
This is a GW team that, as someone who has followed Colonials’ hoops for 20 seasons now, I honestly don’t know what to make of. They have a tremendous amount of heart, but at the same time, some coaching decision have left the fan-base scratching their heads. I don’t think anyone in Foggy Bottom would’ve believed that GW would be 8-14 at this point in the season.
Perhaps the most shocking statistic is how few points per game this team produces: as of now, GW averages only 51.3 per game. Earlier in the season (specifically in non-conference play), that number was in the mid-to-low 40s. Mason, by comparison averages 66.0 points per game. Out of 14 teams in the Atlantic 10, GW’s 51.3 point average is dead last. Even 0-9 La Salle averages 53.9 per game, and Saint Joseph’s and Richmond also find themselves above the Colonials (and behind the Explorers).
Players to Watch:
Neila Luma-the Sophomore leads George Washington in scoring, averaging 10.6 per game, and is the only Colonial averaging double figures. She is second on the team in field goal percentage, shooting 39% (though the leading shooter, Kayla Mokwuah only averages 11 minutes per game). She really has come into her own in conference play especially, highlighted by a pair of 22-point performances in mid-January against La Salle and in the first meeting with George Mason.
Mei-Lyn Bautista-One of just two four-year seniors on the roster, the point-guard from Queens, NY has become the heart and soul of this GW team. This season has seen career numbers for Bautista, as she 9.8 points per game is a career-high. She has been quiet in her last two games, not reaching double-figures since Mason and GW met in the Smith Center, scoring only 8 points combined in the two contests since. One could say she may be due for a big game, especially as the senior leader of the team.
Kelsi Mahoney-the other four-year senior on the roster, Kelsi has evolved into Kelli Prange 2.0. She has become the center with the knock-down three point potential, and actually leads GW in made three point field goals (45, shooting a 33% a clip). You have to imagine she’s determined for a better performance this time around, as she produced just 5 points in the first matchup, on 2-8 shooting and just 1-5 from deep.
Breaking Down George Mason
This is an interesting matchup all around, especially as both teams enter having lost back-to-back loses, with both teams falling on the road at Saint Louis just three days apart. This is a matchup between two very inconsistent teams, and two teams that have had some recent missteps.
I have been looking forward to this game for a long time, for many reasons. I grew up following GW basketball: I’m a traitor, yes, I know. Having gotten to know the faces of both programs, both this year, and for many years, I have seen the tremendous heart that both teams play with. The matchup back in January was quite indicative of that fact, as it came down to the wire, with the Patriots pulling out the four-point win. And you could see from their celebration, just how much that game meant to George Mason. The Patriots will need to keep that level of intensity in order to be successful today, while GW will need to capture their own spark in order to steal a win.
As a team, George Mason has shown some ups and downs all season, and while one could easily panic after two road loses in January, I didn’t hate the way they lost those two games. At Saint Louis, Mason had the lead at halftime, but a late 9-0 run for the Billikens, combined with the gas tank hitting empty sealed their fate. As for the St. Bonaventure game, yes, Mason got absolutely blitzed out of the gates. The Bonnies jumped to a very quick 28-8 lead, but the Patriots kept fighting, and responding with runs. Hell, they even got within 6 points in the final three minutes of the game, before then too, the gas tank hit empty. If you take away the first five minutes of that game, we’re having a very different conversation about this team right now.
But alas, here we are, in a three-way tie for 9th place at 3-5 in conference play. With a loss today, the Patriots could fall as far back as 12th place, but a win would bump them back into 8th place. Keeping in mind seeding for the A-10 Tournament, unlike the men’s format, only the top-two teams in the women’s bracket get byes past the first round. Seeds 3-8 host seeds 9-14 in opening round games hosted by the higher seeded team, with the winners advancing to quarterfinals in Pittsburgh. George Mason is obviously not in contention to be a top-two team, but being able to host that A-10 Tournament game is still very much an attainable goal.
This is a winnable game for George Mason. They get to return home and host another team that has lost a couple of games in a row. This is the type of game that the Patriots really need to find a way to win. And often in these types of games, an unsung hero steps up, just as Sarah Kaminski stepped up in the game at GW, scoring 14 points, including 4 enormous threes. They’re going to need more of that tonight.
Tipoff from EBA is 7PM on ESPN+.
My Prediction: I just have to think the Patriots snap this losing skid and find a way to get that home “Dub.”
