RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — In a game defined by dramatic momentum swings and a frantic final minute, VCU edged George Washington 63-60 in an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball contest Wednesday night at Siegel Center.

The Rams, who led by as many as 15 points in the first half, saw that advantage evaporate completely in the third quarter before holding off a desperate Revolutionaries rally in the closing seconds to secure the victory. The win improved VCU to 7-13 overall, while George Washington fell to 10-11.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final 14 seconds. Trailing 61-60 after George Washington’s Kamari Sims hit a clutch 3-pointer with nine seconds remaining, VCU inbounded the ball under its own basket. The Revolutionaries were forced to foul immediately, sending VCU’s Ty Williams to the line with three seconds on the clock. Williams calmly sank both free throws to extend the Rams’ lead to 63-60.

George Washington, out of timeouts, could only manage a desperation heave from beyond half-court as time expired, sealing the narrow win for the home team.

The game’s trajectory was a tale of two halves. VCU dominated the early going, closing the first quarter on a 15-2 run to lead 15-8 and then extending that lead to 38-15 at its peak in the second quarter. The Rams’ defensive pressure and efficient shooting, particularly from beyond the arc where they finished 6 of 12, fueled the early surge. Cyriah Griffin was instrumental, scoring 18 points for VCU.

George Washington, however, mounted a stunning comeback after halftime. The Revolutionaries exploded for 21 points in the third quarter, spearheaded by the interior play of Sims and the scoring of Sara Lewis. A 17-4 run to open the period brought them back within striking distance, and they continued to chip away at the deficit throughout the fourth quarter.

Lewis led all scorers with 20 points for George Washington, while Sims added 17 points and two blocks. Gabby Reynolds contributed 16 points, four assists and four steals in a strong all-around effort. For VCU, Griffin’s 18 points were supplemented by eight points each from Lucia Sotelo Miguez and Laia Crespin Pastor.

Despite the Revolutionaries’ valiant comeback, key statistical disparities proved decisive. VCU won the rebounding battle decisively, grabbing 11 offensive boards to George Washington’s four, which led to 11 second-chance points. The Rams also committed only five personal fouls, allowing just five free throw attempts, all of which they made. George Washington, by contrast, shot 14 of 19 from the line but could not overcome a 43.8% to 23.5% disadvantage in 3-point shooting.

The game was a defensive struggle for long stretches, with both teams committing double-digit turnovers. George Washington’s offensive rating of 89.5 on 67 possessions underscored the difficulty they had scoring against VCU’s set defense for much of the night, while the Rams posted a more efficient 99.4 rating on 63 possessions.

The announced attendance was 413.

George Washington looks to rebound at home against Fordham on Sunday. VCU travels to face Davidson, also on Sunday.