SUNDAY’S GAME
Fordham at Dayton, Sports, 95.7, 1290 WHIO close the regular season at 3 p.m. Feb. 24 at Saint Louis (1411, 8-4), which shares fourth place with George Mason.
Dayton’s winning streak is now the fourth longest in school history. The Flyers won 18 games in a row in a streak that began in February 1980 and ended in November of the following season. Dayton has twice won 16 in a row, most recently in the 2007-08 season, and it has two 15-game winning streaks, one in the 2012-13 season.
Despite the history her team is chasing, Green doesn’t talk about the streak.
“We really just focus day to day,” she said. “You can’t take any game for granted. You can’t take any day for granted. I try to keep them very grounded. All we can control is today. Let’s try to be the best we can and be better today than we were yesterday. This group has just been a lot of fun. I love being around them. They’ve been so focused. They’ve collectively bought into what we’re doing, and they’re play- ing so well together.”
Dayton has an eight-player rotation, and four starters average more than 32 minutes per game. Two starters, Jenna Burdette and Jayla Scaife, played all 40 minutes Sunday in a 57-53 victory against sixth-place George Washington (12-12, 7-5).
“If it’s a tight game, they’re going to be out there,” Green said. “They want to be out there. That’s kind of how this year has been. They’re used to it by now. They’re conditioned to play that long.” Contact this reporter at 937244-7400 or email David. Jablonski@coxinc.com. Records: Dayton (11-13, 5-7) at George Mason (11-14, 5-7)
When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Patriot Center, Fairfax, Va.
TV/Radio: Spectrum Sports; AM 1290, News 95.7 WHIO Probable Dayton starters
Josh Cunningham 6-7 R-Jr.
Darrell Davis 6-5 Sr.
Trey Landers 6-5 So.
Jalen Crutcher 6-1 Fr.
Jordan Davis 6-2 Fr.
Probable George Mason starters
Otis Livingston II 5-11 Jr. G 16.9
Jaire Grayer 6-5 Jr. G 13.5 Justin Kier 6-4 So. G 10.9 Goanar Mar 6-7 Fr. F 10.1
Greg Calixte 6-8 Fr. F 4.8
Dayton leads 7-1. The Flyers have seven straight wins against George Mason, including an 83-70 victory last season at UD Arena and a 98-64 victory in 2016 at George Mason.
Anthony Grant is 11-13 as Dayton coach. His career record in 10 seasons is 204-123. George Mason’s Dave Paulsen is 42-49 in his third season.
On Saturday, Dayton lost 88-84 in overtime at Virginia Commonwealth, and George Mason beat George Washington 72-65 at the Patriot Center.
Dayton a 61 percent chance of winning and predicts a 75-72 score . ... Dayton ranks third in the country in 2-point field-goal percentage (59.5), 94th in free-throw percentage (73.6) and 170th in 3-point percentage (35.0). If Dayton’s free-throw percentage holds up, it would be the program’s best mark since it shot 73.6 in 2000-01 . ... A loss would drop Dayton three games under .500 for the first time this season . ... Dayton is 1-7 in true road games. Its only win came at Richmond on Jan. 9 . ... Dayton ranks 132nd in the Pomeroy ratings. George Mason is 237th. Dayton is 115th in the RPI, and George Mason is 212th.
The Patriots are 3-3 at home in A-10 play with victories against St. Joseph’s, Saint Louis and George Washington and losses to Davidson, Virginia Commonwealth and St. Bonaventure. They started 3-2 in conference play and then lost four in a row . ... Livingston had 14 points and tied a career high with nine assists against George Washington . ... George Mason ranks 338th out of 351 teams in the country in experience and 342nd in bench minutes. Dayton ranks 307th and 311th, respectively, in those categories.
Dayton plays Fordham (9-15, 4-8) at 7 p.m. Saturday at UD Arena.
— DAVID JABLONSKI F G G G G 16.7 16.3 10.0 9.0 8.6