FAIRFAX, Va. – Led by their seniors on Senior Night, the George Mason women's basketball team closed out its regular-season home schedule in victorious style.

Seniors Tiffany Padgett and Kara Wright combined for 27 points as the Patriots pulled away in the second half for a 60-51 victory over Rhode Island on Wednesday on Senior Night at EagleBank Arena.

Padgett had 14 points, seven rebounds and tied a career high with four steals. Wright added 13 points, a career-high tying six assists (and zero turnovers) and six boards and fellow senior Bridget O'Donnell recorded three blocked shots off the bench. Freshman Alexsis Grate also chipped in 10 points as Mason (13-14, 6-8 Atlantic 10) won its second straight against Rhode Island.

With two regular-season games remaining, the Patriots are tied with VCU for ninth place in the A-10 standings. The No. 3 through No. 8 seeds host first-round games for the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship on campus sites the weekend of Feb. 25-26. If the tournament started today, Mason would be the No. 9 seed as it holds the tiebreaker over VCU, having won the head-to-head matchup.

The Patriots shot just 23.5 percent in the first half and trailed 24-22 at halftime. But Mason got into a rhythm in the third quarter to push past the pesky Rams (4-22, 0-14). The Patriots shot 47.1 percent in the third period and used a 15-4 run to pull ahead.

Trailing 26-25, a 3-pointer by Padgett kickstarted the spurt and Grate's 3-point play off an assist by Wright on a fastbreak capped the flurry and gave Mason a 40-30 lead with 1:55 left in the quarter. Rhode Island wouldn't get closer than seven after that. The Patriots were 8-of-9 from the free-throw line – and 12-for-14 for the game – to close out the victory.

Mason won the rebounding battle 41-39 and scored 14 second-chance points off 16 offensive rebounds. They also had 15 assists on 21 field goals and nabbed 11 steals. They forced 19 Rhode Island turnovers, which Mason turned into 19 points.

Prior to tip-off, the Patriots recognized redshirt seniors Sylvia Maxwell, Bridget O'Donnell, Tiffany Padgett and Kara Wright. The group has played in 197 games at Mason over the last two seasons and made 114 starts.

Mason will close out the regular season with two road games. On Saturday, the Patriots make the short trip to Washington, D.C. to play Revolutionary Rivalry foe George Washington. They'll then finish out the regular season at Saint Joseph's on Tuesday.