After not a single start last season, Quigley is running the point with confidence for the Patriots (3-2, 1-0 Colonial Athletic Conference), who enter tonight’s visit to American having won three straight since opening the season with two losses.

“I like to understand things rather that just do them robotically,” said Quigley, a Lake Braddock High alum who is used to seeing the floor and directing traffic. She was also a field hockey and soccer goalie for the Bruins. “I try to get an understanding of what we want to do – everyone on the team’s strengths so we can use those to our advantage.”

Although she was recruited to play the point, Quigley spent her first two seasons coming in off the bench as a reserve shooting guard and forward. This season she’s returned to her natural position, starting all five games. With added experience and perspective, she’s able to better direct the offense and find ways to make her game more effective.

Scoring and rebounding averages are up for all three of the Patriots’ other consistent starters, junior guard Lateisha Wade (13.0 ppg), junior forward Moni Akintunde (11.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg) and sophomore forward Jessica Smith (6.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg).

At 5-foot-11, Quigley (7.6 ppg) also exploits her height mismatch with opposing point guards. She’s scored 14 points in two of Mason’s last three games, including a bunch on the block earlier in the week against Northeastern.

The success of the George Mason men last season hasn’t brought about any unrealistic expectations for the Patriots women. They know it’s up to them to bring about their own Cinderella run.

“[The men] worked hard, they did what they had to do, and they were the underdogs,” said Quigley. “It was like, ‘We can be underdogs too.’ We can compete with teams like that. It was more inspiring than it was pressure.”

George Mason (3-2) at American (3-6)

» Where: Bender Arena

» When: Tonight, 7 p.m.