FAIRFAX, Va. – As the George Mason women's basketball team added on to its winning streak Monday night, the common denominator to its success stayed the same.

Finishing.

The Patriots closed the door once again in the fourth quarter, sprinting away from crosstown foe American for a 71-53 victory on Monday night at EagleBank Arena. In doing so, they rattled off their fourth straight win for their best start (4-1) to a season since 2013-14.

For the third straight game, Mason held its opponent to fewer than 10 points in the final period. American (2-2) scored just six points in the fourth quarter, going scoreless for more than five minutes. They failed to make a basket for more than eight minutes, missing six shots, committing five turnovers and making just two free throws during that stretch. Conversely, the Patriots scored 18 points on 47.1 percent shooting in the last quarter.

Sophomore Jacy Bolton scored a career-high 18 points on an 8-of-11 shooting night as she also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out three assists. Graduate student and reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Week Natalie Butler posted her fourth consecutive double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds in addition to season highs in assists (four) and blocks (four). Freshman Nicole Cardano-Hillary scored 13 of her 17 points in the second half and snagged a career-high five steals.

In all four of their wins the Patriots have won the fourth quarter, outscoring their opponents 80-38. In their last three games, Mason's opponents have averaged 6.6 points in the final period.

On Monday, they rode the wave of a strong third quarter into the final stanza. In a back-and forth affair for 25 minutes, in which American led by two at halftime, Mason pulled ahead for good midway through the third period.

Freshman Marika Korpinen sunk a 3-pointer to start a 17-7 run that boosted the Patriots in front by as many as six. Katie Marenyi cut the lead to 50-47 with 48 seconds remaining in the quarter. But Mason would find the last basket of the period. Cardano-Hillary attracted the defense by driving into the lane before tossing a pass out to an open Camden Musgrave on the wing for a 3-pointer and a 53-47 lead as time expired.

The Eagles scored the first basket of the fourth period but then suffered their long drought. The Patriots took advantage with a 10-0 run for an insurmountable 63-49 lead with 5:04 left to build on their longest winning streak since the 2014-15 season. Cardano-Hillary scored eight points during the stretch, including three straight baskets off turnovers – two directly a result of steals by the point guard from Spain. Her five steals were the most by a Patriot in almost two years.

Mason compiled its best shooting performance of the season, making 44.1 percent (26-of-59) from the field. The Patriots shot an impressive 51.7 percent in the second half, scoring 39 points.

They also won the rebounding battle for the fourth straight game, winning the battle on the boards 49-23. They scored 20 second-chance points off 18 offensive rebounds. In addition to Butler's dozen, senior Tayler Dodson also had a career-high 12 rebounds for the second straight game.

Mason concludes a four-game homestand at noon on Wednesday when they welcome in Illinois State on the eve of Thanksgiving at EagleBank Arena.