Score: Toledo 80, VCU 61
Location: Tempe, Az. (Wells Fargo Arena)
Records: VCU 6-2, Toledo 2-6

The Short Story: VCU women's basketball fell 80-61 to Toledo in the championship game of the Arizona State Classic on Sunday afternoon in the Wells Fargo Arena. The Rams were riding high from their first victory over a Top-25 opponent for the first time in 27 years, but was unable to pull of a sweep in Arizona.

OPENING TIP

• Juniors Isis Thorpe and Chadarryl Clay led the way for the Rams. Thorpe added three more treys to pull within 44 of the all-time program record. She finished with a team-high 13 points and added two boards.
• Clay scored 11 points in the second period as VCU started to dig themselves out of a hole. She had 12 points, two steals, two rebounds, and an assist.
• Adaeze Alaeze and Jessica Ogunnorin paced each chipped in nine points and five rebounds. Alaeze paced the Rams with three steals.
• Keira Robinson led the team with 6 assists. The junior also registered four points and four rebounds.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• VCU was unable to repeat their defensive efforts from the day before. Toledo shot 50 percent (16-32) from the floor in the first half, including 45.5 (5-11) percent from downtown to take a 30-9 advantage after 10 minutes.
• The Rams responded well, battling in the second period to pull within 12, thanks in part to the play of Clay.
• Despite the effort VCU was unable to complete the comeback, finishing as the tournament runners up.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Rams forced double digit turnovers for the eighth-straight game to start the season. VCU outrebounded the Rockets 39-36.
• VCU outscored the Toledo in the paint 26-22. The Black and Gold bench scored 21 points to the zero for Toledo.
• The Rams fall to 1-3 against Toledo all-time.

WHAT'S NEXT
VCU returns to action next Sunday, Dec. 13 as they host Maryland-Eastern Shore at the Siegel Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.