WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive third-quarter surge and a standout performance from its star guard, the Rhode Island women’s basketball team secured a 79-70 victory over George Washington in an Atlantic 10 Conference matchup Wednesday afternoon at the Charles E. Smith Center.

The Rams, improving to 13-2 overall, used a balanced offensive attack and a critical 24-point third quarter to pull away from the Revolutionaries, who fell to 9-8. The game’s pivotal stretch came after halftime, with Rhode Island transforming a narrow 33-38 deficit into a commanding lead.

Sophia Vital, a 5-foot-5 guard from Cambridge, Massachusetts, led all scorers and orchestrated the Rhode Island offense with 19 points and five assists in 38 minutes. Her backcourt partner, Ines Debroise of Paris, France, added 16 points and four assists. The Rams’ interior presence was bolstered by Brooklyn Gray of Rockford, Illinois, who scored a team-high 23 points, and 6-foot-5 center Albina Syla of Vantaa, Finland, who contributed 12 points.

George Washington was led by Sara Lewis of Atlanta, who scored 16 points. Jaeda Wilson of Potomac, Maryland, added 11 points, and Gabby Reynolds of Holland, Michigan, chipped in 10. The Revolutionaries kept pace early, leading 17-11 after a competitive first quarter and extending their advantage to 38-33 by halftime, fueled by Lewis’s efficient scoring.

The complexion of the game changed entirely in the third quarter. Rhode Island emerged from the locker room with heightened defensive intensity, forcing several George Washington turnovers and converting them into easy baskets. The Rams opened the period on a 15-4 run, flipping a five-point deficit into a six-point lead they would not relinquish. Vital was instrumental during this stretch, scoring at the rim and finding teammates for open looks, while Gray and Syla provided consistent finishing inside. Rhode Island outscored George Washington 24-21 in the quarter to take a 57-59 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter saw the Rams maintain control by effectively managing the clock and capitalizing at the free-throw line. George Washington, which shot just 11 points in the final quarter, could not mount a sustained comeback. Key defensive stops and critical rebounds by Vital in the closing minutes sealed the victory for the visitors.

A significant factor in the outcome was Rhode Island’s dominance in converting opponent mistakes. The Rams scored 14 points off George Washington turnovers, while the Revolutionaries managed only three points off Rhode Island miscues. The Rams also held a 46-36 advantage in points in the paint, underscoring their effective inside-out offensive approach.

The win continues a strong start to conference play for Rhode Island, which entered the game with an 81.2 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system. The Rams have now won three straight games. George Washington, meanwhile, has lost two of its last three.

Rhode Island returns to action Saturday at home against Saint Bonaventure. George Washington will host George Mason on Sunday.

The announced attendance was 970.