AllNCAA Sports

Thrilling Semifinals Propel Rhode Island and George Mason to A-10 Women’s Basketball Championship Clash (3-7-26)



By: Xavier Jones

Headline Photo Credit: Darrell Owens-LMS Network

Henrico, VA — March 7, 2026 — The Henrico Sports & Events Center was electric on Saturday as the 2026 Betterment Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship semifinals delivered a pair of hard-fought battles, setting the stage for an epic title game. Top-seeded Rhode Island held off a gritty Davidson squad in the opener, while defending champion George Mason overcame an early deficit to dominate Richmond in the afternoon matchup. With NCAA Tournament bids on the line, both victors showcased resilience, stellar individual performances, and lockdown defense to punch their tickets to Sunday’s final.

The semifinals marked the culmination of a tournament that began with first-round action on Wednesday, March 4, and featured upsets and buzzer-beaters. Rhode Island, co-regular season champions with a 25-4 record entering the tourney, extended their dominance, while George Mason, the No. 2 seed at 21-8, proved their mettle as repeat contenders. The winners will square off on March 8 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2, with the automatic bid to March Madness on the line. 

Game 1: No. 1 Rhode Island 55, No. 4 Davidson 46

In a defensive masterclass that epitomized A-10 grit, the Rhode Island Rams (27-4, 16-2 A-10) outlasted the Davidson Wildcats (21-12, 12-6 A-10) 55-46 in the morning semifinal. The game was a tale of two halves, with Davidson building an early lead before Rhode Island’s star forward Albina Syla took over, leading her team to its second championship appearance in three years and setting a program record for single-season wins.

Davidson came out firing, jumping to a 12-4 advantage by capitalizing on three early Rhode Island turnovers. Charlise Dunn was the catalyst, pouring in nine of the Wildcats’ first 14 points. But the Rams clawed back with a 10-2 run, ignited by 3-pointers from Sophia Vital and Aimee Michel, to tie it up. The Wildcats held a slim 18-16 edge after the first quarter, but the momentum shifted subtly as Rhode Island’s defense began to tighten.

The second quarter was a slog for both offenses. Davidson pushed to a 22-18 lead, but Rhode Island responded with a 5-0 spurt, including another Michel triple, to grab a 23-22 advantage midway through. However, the Rams hit a drought—no field goals in the final 5:32—and committed four turnovers in under three minutes, allowing Davidson to score 11 points off eight first-half miscues. At the break, the Wildcats led 29-25, holding Rhode Island to just 25 points on 9-of-26 shooting.

The third quarter belonged to Syla. After Davidson was blanked for the opening 3:21, Syla’s second-chance basket at the 8:21 mark snapped Rhode Island’s cold spell. Vital tied it at 29-29 with free throws, and despite a brief four-point Davidson surge, Syla’s back-to-back buckets evened it at 33-33. She dominated the frame, scoring 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting, propelling the Rams to a 41-38 lead entering the fourth. 

Rhode Island sealed the deal with a decisive 10-2 run to open the final period. Ines Debroise drained a 3-pointer, and Vital added five points, including another trey, to push the lead to 51-40. Davidson fought valiantly but couldn’t close the gap, as Rhode Island’s defense forced 13 turnovers overall and held the Wildcats to .358 shooting from the field. 

Syla was the unquestioned star, posting a double-double with 22 points (11-of-14 FG), 14 rebounds (seven offensive), and four blocks in 30 minutes. Vital chipped in 10 points, four steals, and three assists, while Michel and Brooklyn Gray each added six points. For Davidson, Dunn led with 14 points, but the team’s .182 three-point shooting (4-of-22) proved costly. 

Game 2: No. 2 George Mason 60, No. 3 Richmond 45

This afternoon tilt saw the George Mason Patriots (23-8, 16-2 A-10) rally from a sluggish start to dismantle the Richmond Spiders (26-7, 15-3 A-10) 60-45, advancing to their second straight A-10 final. Zahirah Walton’s dominant performance and a suffocating defense that forced 17 turnovers highlighted a comeback that turned a first-quarter deficit into a convincing rout. 

The game opened tightly, with three ties in the first quarter. Walton kept George Mason afloat with two paint buckets, including a layup at 6:06 to knot it at 6-6. But the Patriots struggled offensively, shooting just 4-of-18 from the field, and a late Richmond 3-pointer gave the Spiders a 12-8 lead after 10 minutes.

George Mason flipped the script in the second, tying it at 12-12 on Jada Brown’s jumper to open the frame. Walton’s layup off a Brown assist made it 18-14, and Kennedy Harris added a layup and jumper amid a flurry of Richmond turnovers. The Patriots’ defense shone, forcing multiple miscues and holding Richmond to seven points in the quarter. At halftime, George Mason led 24-19, having turned the tide with opportunistic scoring. 

The third quarter was a breakout for the Patriots. Walton ignited a run with a 3-pointer at 6:49 and a layup at 5:13, while Harris converted a fast-break bucket at 5:01. Mary Amoateng drilled a trey to extend the lead, and George Mason outscored Richmond 19-13 in the period, pushing ahead 43-32. Their pressure defense racked up steals and converted 15 points off turnovers by game’s end. 

In the fourth, Walton continued her onslaught with a layup at 6:59, a steal, and a free throw, helping the Patriots outscore Richmond 17-13 to close it out. George Mason finished with 11 steals and limited the Spiders to .333 shooting overall.

Walton was sensational, dropping 24 points and nine rebounds with two steals. Harris added 18 points, four steals, and three assists, while Amoateng contributed eight points. For Richmond, Addie Budnik led with 12 points, but the team’s 17 turnovers and poor second-quarter output (7 points) doomed their bid for a fourth straight semifinal advancement.

Looking Ahead: Championship Showdown

Sunday’s final pits Rhode Island against George Mason in a rematch of conference co-champions who split their regular-season series. Rhode Island won the tiebreaker for the top seed via head-to-head, but George Mason’s overtime thriller in the quarters and defensive prowess make them a formidable foe. Expect stars like Syla and Walton to shine in what could be a low-scoring, physical affair.

The A-10 has produced memorable moments this tournament, from buzzer-beaters to upsets, and the finale promises more drama. For Rhode Island, it’s a shot at history; for George Mason, a chance to defend their throne. Tip-off is set for 4. p.m. ET—don’t miss it.