GLEN ALLEN, Va. — In an impressive performance on Sunday, Paula Suarez scored 23 points, while Zahirah Walton contributed 19, to lead second-seeded George Mason past No. 4 seed Saint Joseph’s with a score of 73-58 in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game. This victory secures George Mason’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament.
George Mason pulled ahead with a decisive 14-0 run to close out the third quarter, led by standout Nalani Kaysia who nailed a three-point play, a 3-pointer, and two free throws. This surge gave the Patriots a 53-39 advantage going into the final quarter. After an underwhelming first half where the team managed only 27 points with 37% shooting, George Mason emerged strong in the third quarter, netting an impressive 26 points, including a stellar 10 out of 11 shots.
Entering the last period with a lead extended to 19 points, the Patriots faced a pushback from the Hawks as Mackenzie Smith scored two 3-pointers and a layup to narrow the gap to 60-49. Later in the quarter, Saint Joseph’s made another run, scoring eight straight points to come within six points at 64-58. However, George Mason secured the victory by hitting nine crucial free throws in the final 1:17. Kaysia’s overall contributions of 11 points and eight rebounds, alongside Kennedy Harris’ 11 points and Walton’s eight rebounds, proved crucial for George Mason (27-5).
On the Saint Joseph’s side, Mackenzie Smith led her team with 19 points, Laura Ziegler added 18 points and seven assists, and Talya Brugler ended with 10 points. Despite their efforts, Saint Joseph’s record stands at 23-9.
In tournament play earlier, Saint Joseph’s had managed a narrow victory over top-seeded Richmond with a 50-49 semifinal win. Given George Mason’s unexpected triumph in the championship, the Atlantic 10 appears set to receive two entries into the NCAA Tournament, potentially at the expense of a team from a major conference.
