911±¬ĮĻ

Recapping women’s and men’s basketball teams’ historic seasons

Body

Although their seasons came to an end over the weekend, both the 911±¬ĮĻ men’s and women’s basketball teams made history this season.  

The women's team traveled to Louisiana for the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Photo by 911±¬ĮĻ Athletics

The women’s team earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament berth by winning the Atlantic 10 tournament, capped an amazing season with a tough first-round loss to Florida State.  

Paula Suarez scored a career-high 25 points, including five three-pointers. Kennedy Harris had 12 points and five assists.   

After an initial surge by Florida State, the Patriots found their rhythm in the second quarter, matching the Seminoles 19-19 in the frame. SuĆ”rez caught fire from deep, keeping the Patriots within striking distance. But as the game wore on, Florida State's size and depth proved difficult to counter 

ā€œThe outcome of this game does not define who they are,ā€ Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis . ā€œThey have put a legacy in place at Mason…that can never be taken away.ā€  

The team ends its historic season with a 27-6 record.  

The men's NIT game against Bradley. Photo by Art Pittman/911±¬ĮĻ Athletics.

The , led by 911±¬ĮĻ alum and A-10 Coach of the Year Tony Skinn, BA Communication ā€˜06, set a new school record this season with 15 wins in the A-10. They matched the best overall win total (27) in school history. The Patriots also set a new program best for home wins (18) and swept their home A-10 slate (9-0) for the first time. 

The men’s team scored a decisive 86-69 victory against Sanford in the first round of the NIT on Wednesday, March 19, at EagleBank Arena.  

On Saturday, they trailed Bradley by nine (37-28) at the break and by as many as 18 (55-37) in the second half. They closed the gap to three (65-62) with 3:47 left, but Bradley pushed it back to eight (71-63) with 1:31 left and hung on. 

"I'm thankful for our seniors," Skinn said. "This was a phenomenal season—27 wins in a season is not normal, and I'm grateful to these guys for it."