For just the second time since joining the Atlantic 10, and the second consecutive year, #7 George Mason (16-13, 8-8) will host the a first-round game to start the A-10 Tournament, hosting #10 UMass (15-15, 7-9).
This will be the 10th all-time meeting between the two schools, with the Patriots leading the all-time series 8-1. The Patriots won the only meeting of the season, back on January 16 in Amherst, 70-52.
Mason controlled the game in that matchup, outscoring the Minutewomen in every quarter, out-rebounding UMass 38-36, shot 45% while holding them to 35%, and had 20 assists. Nicole Cardaño Hillary lead the way with 22 points, one of four Patriots in double-figures. But where George Mason really dominated was in the post, with 32 points in the paint, 14 (of her total 15 points) from Camarie Gatling alone. For the Patriots to advance to Friday in Pittsburgh, they are going to need more of the same.
If George Mason defeats UMass today, they will advance to face #2 Fordham at 4:30PM on Friday afternoon at the AJ Palumbo Center in Pittsburgh.
Here’s a look at the full A-10 Tournament bracket:
The one question mark entering today is the health of Alexsis Grate. She went down with an apparent lower leg/ankle injury at the end of regulation at La Salle on Saturday. While she did eventually return in overtime, it was clear she was not 100%. Given the quick two-day turnaround to prepare for this game, this becomes even more of a question. That said, Grate is arguably the toughest player on the team. There is no reason to believe she won’t play.
Perhaps no other player on the team is as hot right no as Alexsis. She has scored in double figures in three of the last four games, well surpassing her season average of 4.6 points per game. Jacy Bolton has also seen a recent surge in production, scoring at least 9 points in three of the last four games, boosting her season average to 9.7 points per game.
UMass is lead by Hailey Leidel, a 5-11 guard/forward who averages 12.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, one of just two Minutewomen to average in double-figures in scoring. The other being Destiney Philoxy, a 5-7 freshman guard who scores 10.1 points per game. This isn’t a team that’s going to try to beat you by chucking up threes- they only average 33% shooting from deep, and only two players on the team has even made 50 threes this season (Leidel and Jessica George). Neither shoots better than 36% from deep, and in addition, the entire team only averages 70% shooting from the line.
This is shaping up to be a very winable game for George Mason. I just have a good feeling about this game, and they way the Patriots closed out the season. This team has battled through adversity all season, and fought hard to win some really big games down the stretch. If you at all can, take a long lunch break, or skip class and #FillEBA at high noon today. Head coach Nyla Milleson even wrote you a note:
In case you need a signed note to miss work or class tomorrow, Coach @NylaMilleson has you covered, #MasonNation! @GeorgeMasonU students get in free and get FREE PIZZA!
👀 you at @eaglebankarena at noon tomorrow for #A10WBB First Round matchup vs. @UMassWBB!#GetPatriotic pic.twitter.com/a565yvSXJj
— Mason WBB (@MasonWBB) March 4, 2019
In addition all students will receive free pizza at the game (on top of free admission, as always) and meal ticket deals are still available for regular admission too! Come out and support these tremendous ladies as they take their first steps towards an A-10 Championship.
Tipoff is at 12:00PM, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. This is what we play for. This is March. See y’all there.
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