GLEN ALLEN, Va. — In a nail-biter at the Henrico Sports & Events Center, George Mason (23-9, 16-2 Atlantic 10) narrowly fell to the University of Rhode Island (28-4, 16-2 Atlantic 10), 53-51. 

George Mason established early dominance thanks to Zahirah Walton's jumper at 8:24. Capitalizing on turnovers, Kennedy Harris and MJ Johnson each sank a 3-pointer, extending the lead. Mary Amoateng's critical layup just before the buzzer secured a 15–7 lead for the Patriots at the end of the quarter.

The Patriots kicked off the second quarter with Walton scoring again at 9:48, assisted by Harris. Despite early momentum, they struggled with shooting consistency, hitting only four of their 15 attempts. Jada Brown's jumper at 7:33, following an offensive rebound by Hawa Komara, pushed the lead to four points. Harris then added two free throws at 6:56, extending the lead to six. However, the Rams stormed back, closing the gap with a late jumper by Vanessa Harris as the buzzer sounded, ending the quarter with a tight 25–24 lead for George Mason.

The third quarter saw George Mason gaining momentum with a defensive block by Walton, but Rhode Island managed to pull ahead. Amoateng's jumper at 6:39 brought the Patriots within three points, intensifying the match. Though Harris converted three consecutive free throws at 2:27 to narrow the deficit to one point, the Rams responded with late layups. Rhode Island led 39–34 at the end of the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, George Mason mounted a strong comeback, highlighted by Harris's three-pointer at 5:56 that closed the gap. Walton's presence in the paint was felt, adding six crucial points, while Amoateng's two free throws with 55 seconds left kept the Patriots within reach. Despite Brown's late three-pointer and Amoateng's buzzer-beating three-pointer, the Patriots fell just short. The final score was Rhode Island 53, George Mason 51.

Though the Patriots faced a tough loss, their season continues with an automatic bid to the WBIT tournament, ensuring their competitive journey is far from over.

PATRIOT POINTS

• Zahirah Walton - 10 points, 2 blocks, 2 steals
• Kennedy Harris - 15 points, 5-5 FT, 2 steals
• Mary Amoateng - 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

UP NEXT
The Patriots will learn their fate on Sunday, March 15. They will either receive an at-large bid NCAA Tournament or learn where and against who they will play in the WBIT Tournament.