2012-2013 Mason women's basketball preview

The women's basketball team will host the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of George Mason Athletics.)

The Mason women’s basketball season has officially started with a fall to the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies, 62-58 on Nov. 9. The first home opener is in sight and it is due time to preview the Lady Patriots’ season.

To get a better idea of how the Lady Patriots will finish the season, I took the time to look through last season’s depth chart and statistics to get a better gauge.

Coaching

Coach Jeri Porter is entering her fifth season in Fairfax, and in her short tenure she has rejuvenated the program to be more competitive in the Colonial Athletic Association. She has coached three 1,000-point career scorers while at Mason—Brittany Poindexter, Taleia Moton and recently, Amber Easter—and led the Patriots to their first CAA Tournament win since 2006 last season. Porter has a strong group this season that has the potential to build on the successes of recent years.

Frontcourt

The loss of forward Evelyn Lewis to graduation will be felt in the Patriots’ paint as she was a defensive asset for Porter, plugging the lane and providing an ominous presence for opponents attempting to score down low. Mason returns starting forward Janaa Pickard who started all 30 games for the Patriots last season, averaging 8.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game as a redshirt sophomore.

Redshirt senior forward Joyous Tharrington and sophomores Talisha Watts and Rachel McNair will receive sizable minutes with Tharrington starting and the latter filling in off the bench. In the game against Oakland, Tharringon finished with 11 points and five rebounds—a possible sign of things to come for the 6’0” forward.

Watts and McNair will look to prove that they can be strong contributors to this team with sound defense, advantageous points and smart play.

Backcourt

The Patriots’ backcourt is the team’s strongest aspect with returning starting senior guards Amber Easter and Rahneeka Saunders. Amid the loss of last season’s leading scorer Taleia Moton, who averaged 20.7 points per game, Mason has experienced guard play that can facilitate the offense through Easter or distribute to the post.

Easter, who against Oakland became the 16th member in the Mason women’s basketball 1,000 point club, has a unique skill set that sets her apart from the rest of the team. Her ability to create her own shot, score off the dribble and penetrate the post makes her a lethal threat to score for the Patriots and opens things up for her teammates. After averaging 12 points and seven rebounds in her junior season, Easter has been handed the reigns as the team’s main scoring option and has the competitive mentality to take full advantage of her role.

Additions

In preparation for the upcoming losses of Easter and Saunders, Porter made it a point of emphasis to recruit guards to fill the voids left when they graduate. For starters, she was able to bring in two transfers—Taylor Brown from Georgetown and Kyana Jacobs from Pensacola State College—to bulk up the backcourt for the future.

Brown will redshirt due to NCAA transfer rules, but Brown is eligible to play this season. In addition, Porter recruited Reana Mohamed, a 5’8” guard from Laurelton, NY, to help fill out the backcourt.