In a Rams versus Rams battle it was a tale of two halves between VCU and Rhode Island. The teams were close in overall records entering the match with VCU at 9-5 and URI at 9-4 but the home court advantage is strong at the Siegel Center and the visitors would learn that during the first half. VCU’s winning streak, which began under their previous coach, was 10 deep before the game and would improve to 11 with this win under their belt.
VCU came out hard and fast at the start of play and dominated the first half. During the first 20 minutes the Rams shot 46% from the field with Monnazjea Finney-Smith leading with 11 points followed by Adaeze Alaeze adding 8. Rhode Island struggled to keep up with VCU’s frenetic pace. The VCU defense effectively held the URI offense to 24% shooting and the team averages 39%. VCU recorded 25 rebounds and 10 assists and led by 23 points at the first buzzer. Rhode Island had a considerable amount of ground to make up to have any hope of turning the game around with a score of VCU 40 URI 17 going into halftime.
When the teams returned it was a different game and URI took off fast adding 7 points before VCU successfully countered with a free throw. Rhode Island went from 24% to 48% on their shooting and VCU went from 46% to 29%, but despite URI outscoring VCU in the second half 31 -24 the buffer from the first half still allowed VCU to come away with a solid win of 64 – 48.
Statistics of note from the win:
URI had 0 points contributed from their bench and only 4 players scored, but 3 were in double digits – Symone Bullard (18), Charise Wilson (14), Sydney Lewis (12), Tayra Melendez (4)
VCU had 21 points contributed from their bench and 9 of 10 Rams scored
VCU had 4 scorers in double digits – Monnazjea Finney-Smith (14), Adaeze Alaeze (11), Keira Robinson (10), Isis Thorpe (10)
Alaeze posted a double double with 11 points and 14 rebounds
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