No. 13 George Washington 48, Rhode Island 45

1/16/2008 8:21 PM

KINGSTON, R.I. (AP) -Kimberly Beck scored 23 of her career-high 25 points in the second half to help No. 13 George Washington rally for a 48-45 victory over Rhode Island on Wednesday night.

Beck scored on a one-handed floater to give George Washington (14-3, 2-0 Atlantic-10) a 44-43 lead with 1:24 left.

After a turnover by Rhode Island (7-10, 0-2), Sarah-Jo Lawrence hit a jump shot but the Rams countered with a driving layup by Crystal Bellinger that pulled her team within 46-45 with 21.2 seconds left.

Beck clinched the victory hitting two free throws with 10.9 seconds left.

George Washington has won nine games in a row and 18 consecutive regular-season conference games dating back to the 2005-06 season.

Safi Mojidi scored 16 points to lead the Rams, who have lost four straight.

The Colonials bolted to an early 9-2 lead, forcing 10 turnovers and holding the Rams to only one basket in the first 10 1/2 minutes.

George Washington appeared to be on the verge of breaking the game open when Jazmine Adair scored on a fast-break layup for a 16-6 lead with 5:43 left in the half. But Rhode Island then went on a 16-0 run paced by Mojidi and Lindsay Harris.

Mojidi scored eight of Rhode Island's points, while Harris connected on a pair of baseline jumpers.

The Colonials pulled within 22-18 at intermission when Lawrence sank two free throws with just under a second left in the half.