George Mason University women’s basketball reached a historic milestone Sunday, securing its first-ever Atlantic 10 Championship with a 73-58 victory over Saint Joseph’s.

The Patriots (27-5) have enjoyed a season of firsts, including setting a program record for wins and reaching the A-10 semifinals. With the championship win, they now advance to new heights in the program’s storied history.

“It’s really special. Coming in my freshman year, it was not like this before [GM] coach [Vanessa Blair-Lewis] got here. She’s the reason I came here,” said Zhariah Walton, who was named the A-10 Championship’s Most Outstanding Player.

With the clock winding down, George Mason fans erupted in chants of Paula Suarez’s name. Suarez, who led the team with 23 points, was instrumental in the win.

“It’s just really exciting seeing where the program was and how quick it had changed and over the past few years we’ve been on the top,” Suarez said

The game was tightly contested in the first half, with both teams heading into the break tied at 27. But George Mason surged in the third quarter, outscoring Saint Joseph’s 24-13. Walton’s three-pointer, followed by free throws and a strong finish by Suarez, pushed the Patriots to their first double-digit lead.

The team shot 90.9% from the field in the third quarter and finished the game shooting 50% overall (24 of 48). They also connected on 40% of their three-pointers (6 of 15).

In addition to Suarez’s 23 points, Walton contributed 19, and Nalani Kaysia added 11. Both Walton and Kaysia grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

 Patriots’ Zahirah Walton (2) maneuvers past Hawks’ Rhian Stokes (1). No. 2 George Mason defeated No. 4 Saint Joseph’s 73-58 in the 2025 Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship at the Henrico Sports & Events Center on Sunday, March 9.
 

This marked the third meeting of the season between George Mason and Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks (23-9) had won the previous two matchups.

“We didn’t lose to Saint Joseph’s both times because we didn’t have the talent to win. We lost because we didn’t have the heart in those games to win. We got outworked,” said George Mason Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis. “And so today was about being faithful with 40. For 40 minutes, let’s be faithful with the 40.”

Saint Joseph’s mounted a late comeback, starting the fourth quarter with a 15-4 run that narrowed the gap to six points. Laura Ziegler, an All-Championship team selection, converted a layup off a George Mason turnover during the run. However, the Patriots closed strong with a 9-0 run to secure the win.

 Hawks’ Laura Ziegler (4) grabs a rebound as George Mason’s defenders contest during the 2025 Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship at the Henrico Sports & Events Center.
 

“Coming off two really thrilling games to lead us up to this point, very proud of the position we put ourselves in. And then the third quarter happened. It’s really tough when a team is shooting 90 percent,” Saint Joseph’s Coach Cindy Griffin told atlantic10.com Mackenzie Smith, an All-Championship team selection for the Hawks, led her team with 19 points. Ziegler added 18, and Talya Brugler chipped in 10 points.

George Mason’s historic win marks a new era for the program and cements their place atop the A-10.