FAIRFAX, Va. – A stifling defensive effort set the tone as the George Mason women's basketball team jumped out to its best start in Atlantic 10 Conference play.

The Patriots allowed just two points in the second quarter, creating more than enough separation to pull away for a 77-56 victory over Richmond on Wednesday afternoon at EagleBank Arena. Mason (15-4, 4-1) improved to 4-1 in Atlantic 10 action for the first time since joining the league in 2013-14. The Patriots last started conference play 4-1 back in 1996-97 when still members of the Colonial Athletic Association.

Graduate student Natalie Butler posted her 18th straight double-double, matching the sixth-longest in Division I women's basketball history, with 17 points and 19 rebounds. She also grabbed her 1,000th career rebound early in the third quarter (she surpassed the 1,000-point mark in December).

Freshman Nicole Cardaño-Hillary, the Atlantic 10's leading scorer heading into the matchup, added 13 points despite battling foul trouble. Sophomore Sarah Kaminski scored 10 points and tied career-highs with seven rebounds and four assists in 22 minutes.

Redshirt junior Camden Musgrave came off the bench to score nine points and grab three rebounds. Nine Patriots scored, with eight players scoring at least six points.

The Patriots also extend their program-record winning streak to 12 games. They're 11-0 at home this year, tying the program record for most single-season wins at EagleBank Arena.

The game was tied 21-21 after the first quarter. But the Spiders (7-12, 2-4) failed to make a basket from the field and committed six turnovers. Richmond didn't score until 0.3 seconds left on the clock as Jaide Hinds-Clarke made a pair of free throws.

The Patriots took advantage, going on a 20-0 run starting with 24 seconds left in the opening quarter. Tayler Dodson's free throw less than three minutes into the second period gave the Patriots the lead for good. Musgrave scored five straight points and Butler added a layup off an offensive rebound with six seconds left to cap off the spurt as the Patriots led 39-23 at halftime.

Richmond shot just 29.7 percent for the game. Micaela Parson, the third-leading scorer (17.8 ppg) in the A-10 behind Cardano-Hillary and Butler, scored just 11 points on 4-of-14 shooting.

Mason won the rebounding battle 50-40 and forced 19 turnovers. The Patriots also assisted 17 times on 27 baskets, with four players dishing out at least three assists.

The Patriots now hit the road to play Duquesne at noon on Sunday in Pittsburgh.