RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University senior forward D'Andra Moss scored a team-high 25 points but Drexel University shot 63 percent in the second half and erased an eight-point deficit to defeat the Rams, 70-62, Sunday afternoon at the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

VCU, which slips to 16-9 overall and 9-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association, drops its second straight and third in its last four outings, while Drexel improves to 16-8, 10-3 in conference play and assumes sole possession of second place in the CAA standings.

"There's no question that this loss is disappointing," said VCU Head Coach Beth Cunningham.  "We were in a good position [in the second half] but just couldn't close it out.  We turned the ball over in critical moments and gave up some crucial offensive rebounds. 

"But it's definitely a credit to Drexel.  Marginean is phenomenal.  She puts that team on her back and she made play after play down the stretch today.  The most important thing is that we have to bounce back as we have some key games ahead of us."

Moss scored 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range.  Meanwhile, sophomore forward Courtney Hurt (right)registered her seventh double-double of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds and senior guard Kita Waller contributed 12 points and 12 boards for the VCU.

Drexel senior forward Gabriela Marginean led all scorers with 29 points and corralled a team-best 11 rebounds.  Junior guard Jasmina Rosseel added 12 points with a game-high four steals and sophomore guard Marisa Crane chipped in 11 points and seven boards for the Dragons.

VCU jumped out to an early 21-8 advantage at the 13:35 mark in the opening period and maintained its 13-point lead over the next eight minutes.

Rosseel hit a pair of free throws with 5:35 to go before the break and ignited a 7-0 run and cut the VCU lead to 25-19 following a Marginean layup with 3:25 showing.

Waller found Hurt for a layup on the following possession and the Rams scored seven of the next nine points to pull ahead 32-21 with 41 seconds remaining in the half.

Drexel wasn't finished, though, as Crane hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left to pull within 32-24 at the break.

The Dragons continued their momentum to start the second half and Marginean got Drexel within 32-26 on a layup just 10 seconds into the final period.

VCU went on top 41-32 six minutes later before Drexel began to press and ignited a game-winning rally.  The Dragons halted the Rams' run on a jumper by Crane with 13:44 to go and used a 15-5 spurt and forced four VCU turnovers during the next 3:42 to take their first lead of the game at 47-46.

"Certainly their press changed the momentum of the game a bit," Cunningham said.  "We had opportunities today on critical possessions where we didn't take care of the basketball.  They're so efficient on the offensive end and turnovers play right into their strength, which is offensive execution."

Hurt put the Rams back on top on the ensuing possession and VCU held its final lead of the game on a Waller trey with 5:01 to go.

Drexel scored 16 of the next 20 points and pulled ahead 70-59 with 28 seconds remaining.

VCU recognized the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's PinkZone initiative, which is a global effort for the WBCA to assist in raising breast cancer awareness, as players donned pick head bands and shoe laces.

Prior to the game (pictured left), Waller and Moss received commemorative basketballs after the duo reached the 1,000 point plateau in the Rams' victory at Old Dominion on Feb. 7.  Senior La'Tavia Rorie, who was just 16 points shy of 1,000 after suffering a season-ending knee injury on Jan. 10, also was recognized for her contribution to the program over the past four seasons.

VCU hosts William & Mary on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Arena.