Score:  VCU 74, UMass 66
Location: Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center)
Records: VCU 12-2, UMass 6-7

The Short Story: The VCU women's basketball team opened the New Year with a win over UMass in Amherst to open Atlantic 10 Conference play on Saturday. Despite trailing at the half for the first time in nearly a month, coach Beth O'Boyle's squad was able to fight back and extend their season-high win streak to six games.

OPENING TIP

• Adaeze Alaeze recorded her first double-double of the season, leading the Rams with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists.
• Isis Thorpe made three three-pointers to move within 36 of the program's all-time record. The guard also grabbed six boards and registered two blocks.
• Galaisha Goodhope dished out five assists and added seven points. Jessica Ogunnorin chipped in eight points and Ashley Pegram swiped a team-leading three steals.
• Curteeona Brelove continued to be a strong presence on the court putting up 10 points and rebounding 5.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Rams trailed at the half for the first time since playing Toledo in the championship game of the Arizona State Classic.
• VCU had trouble defending the deep ball as UMass built a lead thanks in part to making five of their first nine attempts from downtown.
• The Rams have been a strong second half team all season and were able to finish strong against the Minutemen. VCU scored 23 pooints in the third to go up heading into the fourth quarter.
• UMass and VCU swapped leads throughout the third until layups from Brelove and Alaeze put the Rams ahead for good.
• The Minutemen chipped away at VCU's 11-point lead, cutting it to six late, but the Rams were able to hold on for their first win of 2016.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• 14 of Alaeze's points were scored in the second half as VCU rallied to take the lead.
• The Rams forced 18 UMass turnovers. VCU has caused double-digit errors in every game this season and lead the A10 in turnovers forced, turnover margin, and steals.
• VCU scored 16 of their points off of Minutemen mistakes.
• VCU outscored UMass in the paint 32-20 and the bench chipped in 25 points.
• The Rams held the Minutemen to just 20.5 percent from beyond the arch in the second half after being burned by the trey early in the contest.
• The Black and Gold held UMass to 12.5 percent (one-of-eight) from three-point range in the fourth quarter.
• The Rams advance to a perfect 4-1 all-time against UMass.

WHAT'S NEXT
VCU returns home to host Saint Louis in their Atlantic 10 Conference home opener on Thursday, Jan. 7. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.