Preview: George Mason Patriots at Dayton Flyers DAYTON, Ohio (Interstat) — A pivotal Atlantic 10 women’s basketball matchup unfolds Wednesday afternoon as the George Mason Patriots visit the Dayton Flyers at University of Dayton Arena. The Patriots (15-7) look to rebound from a road loss and solidify their conference standing, while the Flyers (13-11) aim to build momentum from a narrow victory and climb back to .500 in league play. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST. George Mason enters having won six of its last eight, though coming off a 71-57 defeat at Richmond on Saturday. The Patriots will lean on guard Mary Amoateng, who scored 17 points with five assists in that loss and has been a consistent offensive catalyst. She averaged 12.2 points over her last six contests. Dayton arrives with back-to-back wins, including a 75-73 thriller at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. Flyers guard Nicole Stephens powered that effort with 18 points and four assists, continuing her strong play. She has averaged 15.4 points over her last seven games. The recent series favors George Mason, which handily defeated Dayton 74-59 in Fairfax, Virginia, on Dec. 31. That result will likely fuel the Flyers’ desire for home-court revenge. A key battle will be in the backcourt between Amoateng and Stephens, whose playmaking and scoring will be critical for their respective teams. Dayton’s Molly O’Riordan, who nearly posted a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds last game, could be a factor inside against a Patriot defense that has held opponents under 60 points in four of its last seven wins. With the Atlantic 10 tournament seeding at stake, both teams seek a crucial February victory. George Mason looks to prove its early-season win was no fluke, while Dayton aims to defend its home floor and even the season series.