Rhode Island Clinches Atlantic 10 Championship
In a thrilling finish, Rhode Island edged out George Mason 53-51 on Sunday, clinching their inaugural Atlantic 10 Championship Tournament title. Led by Brooklyn Gray, who scored 16 points, the top-seeded Rams (28-4) secured a place in the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in the program’s history, and their first since 1996.
Game Highlights
George Mason, the defending champions and second-seeded team (23-9), found themselves trailing by as much as seven points in the final quarter. With just 15.4 seconds remaining, Jada Brown sparked a resurgence for George Mason, nailing a crucial 3-pointer to narrow the deficit to 51-48. Gray, however, calmly responded by sinking two free throws 8.9 seconds later, solidifying Rhode Island’s lead before Mary Amoateng hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer, wrapping up the game.
Key Performances
Gray was exceptional from the charity stripe, converting all eight of her attempts, including six in the final quarter during a crucial stretch. Rhode Island gained momentum with a strong 15-9 third quarter, entering the final frame with a 39-34 advantage. Although George Mason’s Kennedy Harris brought them within striking distance at 42-39 with a 3-pointer, a nearly four-minute scoring drought followed. However, late layups from Gray and teammate Sophia Vital expanded the Rams’ lead to 46-39.
Contributions from Both Teams
Additionally, Albina Syla contributed significantly with 10 rebounds and 9 points for Rhode Island, while Harris led the way for George Mason with 15 points, supported by Amoateng’s 13 points and Zahirah Walton‘s 10. This victory marks Rhode Island’s return to prominence, as they previously made it to championship finals in 1984, 2003, and 2024.
Historical Context
It’s noteworthy that since George Washington’s back-to-back titles in 2015-16, no team has repeated as champions in the Atlantic 10 tournament.
