Senior Night at the Stu celebrated the contributions of 4 players: Adaeze Alaeze, Chaddaryl Clay, Jessica Ogunnorin and Melanie Royster to the VCU program. As the student-athletes prepared for the final home game of their VCU careers an impending tornado added to the emotional turbulence in the Siegel Center. The first quarter was shaky for both teams but once the Rams took the lead they never looked back. Every senior ended the night with points on the board and Senior Daisy Alaeze led her team with 21 points to put an exclamation point of the 65-34 victory.
Curteeona Brelove led the Rams with 5 points during the first quarter. Both teams struggled from the field with VCU shooting 25% but connecting on 3 of 3 from the line. Mason shot 21% and failed to connect on any of their 5 free throws. The Rams out rebounded the Patriots 16-9 during the opening act and held an 11-7 advantage at the buzzer.
VCU dominated the offense carrying a 15-0 run that began in the first quarter deep into the second. Mason couldn’t get a shot to fall for over 10 minutes until Taylor Brown broke the drought by draining one from long range at 4:16. The Patriots were able to double their score in the final minutes but it was a 24-14 Ram advantage at the half.
The Patriots cut the Rams to a 2 possession lead during the third quarter (26-22). VCU reclaimed the offensive advantage with a 13-2 run over the remaining minutes. A frustrated Patriots team was received a technical foul on Tayler Dodson following a backcourt violation. The Rams were up 41-24 at the end of the third.
The final quarter was owned by the Rams who outscored the Patriots 24-10. They out rebounded by 47-30, dished out 15 assists, and had 11 steals (led by Alaeze with 3). VCU ended with 44% shooting from the field including 68% from the stripe. Mason connected on 26% from the field and 36% on their free throws.
Not even the impending tornado could keep the Rams from sending their seniors off in style. Congratulations and Good Luck ladies. VCU improves to 20-8 and 11-5 in conference and hit the road for their final regular season game versus Davidson before heading to the A-10 tournament next week.
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