For the first time in program history, No. 9 Maryland women’s basketball has scored 80 or more points in each of its first six games.
The Terps have started 6-0, and they will cap off a seven-game homestand against George Mason. Sunday begins a five-day stretch with three games as Maryland heads to Puerto Rico for games on Wednesday and Thursday.
Tip is slated for 2:30 p.m. from Xfinity Center. The game will be televised on Big Ten Network.
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George Mason Patriots (4-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10)
2024-25: 27-6, 14-4 Atlantic 10
Head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis is in her fifth season with George Mason, and she led the program to its first Atlantic 10 championship and NCAA Tournament appearance last season.
The Patriots had their best season in program history in 2024-25 and have followed it up with a solid start. George Mason lost its season opener to Temple but has won four in a row since.
The Patriots return multiple key contributors and look to repeat the most successful season in program history.
Players to watch
Zahirah Walton, redshirt junior forward, 5-foot-11, No. 2 — Walton leads the Patriots in scoring this season, averaging 19.6 points and 8.8 rebounds. She opened this season with 31 points against Temple. Last season, she was a top contributor, earning a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Conference first team and Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team. Last season, she averaged 14.8 points per game on 42.9% shooting.
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Kennedy Harris, junior guard, 5-foot-7, No. 3 — Harris has been an impact player for the Patriots since her freshman year, making the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team. She followed that up with an Atlantic 10 All-Conference second-team nod after averaging 13.9 points, 2.4 assists and 2.5 rebounds. She’s had a solid start to this season, averaging 13.2 points with 2.4 rebounds and assists.
MJ Johnson, graduate forward, 6-foot-3, No. 14 — Johnson is with her third program in six years of college basketball. She spent four seasons with Texas A&M but never saw consistent playing time and transferred to Ball State. She averaged 4.8 points per game and 3.4 rebounds there, but has taken a big step with George Mason — averaging 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds. She has started all five games, already more starts than she had in her first five seasons combined.
Strength
Forcing turnovers. The Patriots have forced 107 turnovers through the first five games of the season, averaging 21.4 per game. George Mason averages 11.2 steals per game and averages 22.2 points off turnovers per game. Last season, George Mason forced 18.5 turnovers per game on 9.2 steals and has built off that sustained success this season.The Terps have struggled with the turnover bug thus far, so the Patriots could be primed to take advantage of it.
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Weakness
Rebounding. The Patriots have struggled on the boards thus far, averaging 2.6 fewer rebounds per game than their opponents. George Mason averages 42.6 rebounds per game, but it is simply too top-heavy. Walton and Johnson average 35.7% of the team’s rebounds, and the rest of the team has struggled on the glass. The Terps are dominant on the boards and could force a real problem for their opponent.
Three things to know
1. Addi Mack’s status. Mack missed Maryland’s last game against Bethune-Cookman with ankle soreness — fallout from an ankle sprain she suffered against Princeton. Head coach Brenda Frese said the freshman is currently day-to-day, and the team is being cautious with her.
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2. A close contest once again? Last season, George Mason gave the Terps a run for their money in the Navy Classic. The Patriots led after three quarters, but they ultimately fell after Maryland went on a fourth-quarter run and won, 66-56.
3. The end of a long homestand. The Terps started the season with seven consecutive home games on the schedule. Sunday is the last of those contests, as the Terps will head out to Puerto Rico to face No. 20 Kentucky and Hofstra.
