The Basics

• Score: VCU 65, UMass 43  
• Records: VCU (15-12, 6-8), UMass (10-16, 4-10)
• Location: Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center inside the HDL, Inc. Athletic Village – Richmond, Va.
• The Short Story: Sophomore Chadarryl Clay poured in a career-high 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting to lead the VCU women's basketball team to a 65-43 win over UMass on "Play4Kay" day at the Siegel Center. The Rams turned up the defense, holding the Minutewomen to just 36.5-percent from the field and forcing 17 turnovers. Isis Thorpe (14), Ashley Pegram (12) and Adaeze Alaeze (10) also finished in double-figures for the Black & Gold.

• After the teams traded baskets to start the contest, a three-pointer by Clay with 15:01 remaining in the first half gave VCU a 9-6 lead, a lead that they would never relinquish.
• The Rams' defense would take over, holding UMass without a point for 11:30 en route to a 24-2 run and a 27-8 lead with 3:37 to play in the stanza.
• UMass would respond, closing the half on a 7-0 run as the teams headed into the break with VCU leading 27-15.
• The Minutewomen would continue to chip away at the lead and get as close as seven, 32-25, with 15:18 to play.
• VCU would push the lead back double-digits and three 3-pointers in less than three minutes would increase that lead to 15, 48-33 with 7:45 remaining.
• Clay would score seven points in the final five minutes as the Rams saw their lead reach as high as 24 before closing out the 65-43 win in front of nearly 1,000 fans who packed the Stu on "Play4Kay" day.

• It was the fourth time this year that VCU held its opponent to 50 points or less.
• The Rams have now forced 17 or more turnovers in four of the past five games.
• The eight made 3-pointers by VCU were the third-most all season and highest total since Ohio State, when the Rams knocked down 14 from beyond the arc.

• The Rams head to Davidson for the final road contest of the year. Tip time on Wednesday, Feb. 25 is set for 7 p.m.