It’s been exactly 250 days since the 2019 season came to a close, and now…
IT’S FINALLY #MASONGAMEDAY AT EBA!!!!!!
It’s been one hell of a long off-season, but not only does George Mason Women’s Basketball get to finally host their home-opener today, they do so already 1-0 on the season with the opportunity to host a Power-5 opponent for the first time since November of 2016!
Patriots Take Down College of Charleston, 72-61
George Mason Women’s Basketball opened the season the right way, winning their opening game of the 2019-2020 season on the road at College of Charleston by a score of 72-61 on Wednesday night. Junior guard Nicole Cardaño-Hillary led Mason with 24 points and five steals, while true Freshman Tamia Lawhorne had 16 points and eight rebounds in her Mason debut. To add to it all, Camarie Gatling posted a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
The Patriots’ best quarter was by far the second, after trailing 23-18 after one quarter, Mason flipped the script in the second, outscoring the Cougars 15-7, to take a 33-30 lead into halftime. Despite shooting just 36% from the field throughout the game, Mason finished off the fourth quarter shooting a game-high 41.7% in the final 10 minutes, outscoring College of Charleston 20-16 to close out the win.
George Mason also managed to get to the line a lot, attempting more than twice as many free throws as Charleston, going 25-33 from the line overall, sinking 9-14 in the fourth quarter to help put the game out of reach.
Scouting Virginia Tech
The Hokies enter today also 1-0 on the season, after demolishing Saint Francis (PA) by a score of 105-41. Virginia Tech saw five different scoring posting double-figures, led by Elizabeth Kitley who dropped 27 points in just 21 minutes played. All of her points came without even attempting a three, and going just 1-2 from the line as well. At 6’5, the responsibility of guarding her will likely fall to Camarie Gatling and Devyn Wilson.
Aisha Sheppard and Dara Mabrey scored 15 points and 16 points respectively, combining to hit six of the Hokies’ nine made three pointers, and as a team, Virginia Tech collectively out-rebounded Saint Francis (PA) by a staggering 46-18 margin. This clearly must be a point of emphasis for George Mason to be successful, as it is already a fundamental that Nyla Milleson prides her teams in. The one downside for Virginia Tech was fellow Nancy Lieberman Award nominee, Taja Cole, scored just seven points, though she did have nine assists and five rebounds.
Virginia Tech was picked to finish 10th in the ACC Preseason Poll, after finishing 22-12 (6-10) last season. The last time these two teams met was in the 2018 WNIT 2nd Round in which the Hokies outlasted George Mason 78-69 in what was the final game of Natalie Butler and Tayler Dodson’s careers, who combined for 44 points. Then-Freshman Nicole Cardaño-Hillary had 15 points. Tech leads the overall series 7-3, with the last Mason victory coming in November of 2014.
This game will be a good litmus test for Mason, as Virginia Tech despite being picked 10th in the ACC preseason polls, is arguably one of the best teams that is on the Patriots’ schedule this season. I expect this one to be a close game all the way through, and I believe this could come down to who can hit shots in the fourth quarter.
Tipoff is set for 2:00 from EagleBank Arena and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. For in-game updates and coverage, follow @n1a2v3y4 on Twitter! Get yourself to EBA for one of the best games of the season!!!
