Atlantic 10 Tournament Semifinals: Davidson vs. George Mason
3/8/2025 8:25:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DAVIDSON WILDCATS
Seed: Third
Overall Record: 19-12
Atlantic 10 Record: 14-5
Head Coach: Gayle Fulks | Eighth season (123-113)
GEORGE MASON PATRIOTS
Seed: Second
Overall Record: 25-5
Atlantic 10 Record: 14-4
Head Coach: Vanessa Blair-Lewis | Fourth season (74-47)
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Dates: March 5-9, 2025
Game Time: 1:30 p.m.
Location: Henrico, Va.
Site: Henrico Sports and Events Center
TV: CSSSN (Semifinals), ESPN2 (Championship)
Championship Central: atlantic10.com
LAST TIME OUT...
Charlise Dunn scored a game-high 16 points and Davidson forced 29 turnovers as the 'Cats cruised past Dayton, 56-36, in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Tournament Friday evening inside the Henrico Sports and Events Center.
Advancing to the semifinals for the first time since joining the league in 2014-15, the Wildcats will take on second-seeded George Mason Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The two teams split the season series with each team winning on their home floor.
Named second-team all-conference earlier this week, Dunn also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds. She was joined in double figures by senior and third-team selection Issy Morgan, who had 13 points.
In addition to forcing 20 first-half turnovers, Davidson held the Flyers to just 11 points in the half, the lowest total by an opponent since holding George Mason to 12 on Feb. 20, 2021.
The Wildcats have now won nine of their last 10 contests.
THE REGULAR SEASON WRAP UP...The Wildcats conclude the regular season winning eight of their last nine to improve to 18-12 and program-best 13-5 in A-10 play. For the second consecutive season and the third time under the leadership of Coach Gayle Fulks, the Wildcats tallied 18 regular-season victories. Davidson's 13-5 A-10 record is the best since the 2012-13 season when it was 16-4.
POSTSEASON SUCCESSES...
Four Davidson players earned a spot in the Atlantic 10 postseason awards:
Charlise Dunn - All-Conference Second Team
Issy Morgan - All-Conference Third Team
Kyra Bruyndoncx - All-Rookie Team
Candice Lienafa - All-Rookie Team
The honors were the second of such for Dunn who was on the All-Conference Third Team a season ago and Morgan who was an All-Rookie member her freshman year.
WILDCAT TRENDS...
A few key components have helped propel the Wildcats through the regular season and will be trends they will look to uphold heading into the tournament.
Davidson is 16-1 when it enters the halftime break with a lead over its opponent. Additionally the Wildcats are 15-3 when leading in rebounds as well as 15-2 when holding its competitors to under .400 from the field. The 'Cats will need to take care of the ball as they are 13-2 when they commit less than 15 turnovers. Lastly the more involvement the better as Davidson went 11-2 when three or more players score in double figures.
DAVIDSON DEPTH...
The Wildcat bench has stepped up in huge ways this season, ultimately outscoring any other opponents bench by a +205 margin on the year. The 'Cats reserves have compiled 20+ points on 16 occasions this year including a season-best 46 bench points against Presbyterian
DOMINANT DEFENSE FROM THE ARC...
Ranking ninth in the nation and first in the Atlantic 10 in opponent 3-point percentage at just .263, the Wildcats have continued to defend the arc well entering the postseason. So far this season, Davidson has surrendered just 110 total made 3-pointers, allowing its opponents to hit more than six triples just two times this season.
The 'Cats have held their competitors to no made 3-pointers on three occasions this season (0-6 Presbyterian, 0-3 Charlotte, 0-8 George Mason).
On the opposite end of the court, the 'Cats are also currently ranked 58th in all of Division I in 3PT% at .345.
FUN IN FEBRUARY...
February was a marquee month for the 'Cats who were an impressive 7-1 in the second month of the year. Losing to only the A-10 regular-season champs Richmond.
Davidson outscored its February opponents by a +11.0 on average in addition to holding those competitors to just a .335 FG% and .316 3PT%.
Charlise Dunn put up sizable numbers during the streak with 12.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.7 spg, 1.8 apg and 2.2 bpg. The junior guard also connected on 19 three pointers while missing just three shots at the foul line.
Katie Donovan was also a solid all-around contributor during the month averaging 9.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game all the while shooting .464 (26-of-56) from the floor, .333 (6-of-18) from beyond the arc and .833 (15-of-18) at the foul line.
Mallorie Haines led the charge from distance over the month of February. The senior sharp shooter converted on .516 percent of her attempts beyond the arc, making a total of 16 over an eight-game span. Additionally, Haines shot well all around, with a roster-best .529 percentage from the field during the Wildcats winning month.
Issy Morgan in her five games back through February picked up where she left off, netting 7.8 ppg including a 6-of-11 showing from long range.
A LOOK AROUND THE A-10...
The Wildcats finished out the regular season ranking in the top portion of conference contenders in numerous categories.
Team
First - Opp 3PT% (.265)
First - BPG (4.2)
Third - 3PT/GM (7.7)
Third - 3PT% (.352)
Fourth - FG% (.423)
Fifth - Scoring Margin (+6.2)
Sixth - Opp PPG (57.6)
Seventh - PPG (63.8)
Individual
Millie | First - BPG (1.4)
Candice | Second - FG% (.562)
Mallorie | Second - 3PT% (.467)
