Score:  Saint Louis 77, VCU 72
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 12-3 (1-1 Atlantic 10), Saint Louis 11-4 (1-1)

The Short Story: VCU women's hoops dropped their Atlantic 10 Conference home opener against Saint Louis 77-72 on Thursday night to snap their season-high six game win streak. Adaeze Alaeze score 20 points for the second game in a row to open conference play and Keira Robinson chipped in 15 as the Rams moved to 2-3 all-time against the Billikens.

OPENING TIP

• Alaeze paced the Rams 20 points and four assists, adding seven rebounds. The senior was a perfect six-for-six from the foul line.
• Robinson, the team leader in assist/turnover ratio, swiped three steals and registered two assists against the Billikens.
• Ashley Pegram and Curteeona Brelove also reached double-figures with 12 and 11 points each. Brelove just missed her third double-double of the season with nine assists.
• Jessica Ogunnorin scored seven points and grabbed six boards.

• The Rams have had success overpowering team in the second half of their games this season and with a three-point lead at the half were poised to start the conference season with a 2-0 record.
• VCU scored the first points of the third quarter, but minute later Saint Louis was able to tie the game at 44-44. The Billikens were able to take the lead after an Alaeze technical resulted in a five-point possession for Saint Louis.
• After trading scores, the Rams pulled within one after Robinson nailed a trey from well beyond the arch to beat the buzzer to end the third.
• The Rams battled but were unable to come from behind down the stretch, earning their first loss in 2016.

• The Rams were held to just 27.3 percent (3-of-11) shooting from downtown and struggled to defend the three, allowing Saint Louis to shoot 42.9 percent (9-of-21) from three-point range.
• VCU forced 13 SLU turnovers. The Black & Gold have caused double-digit errors in every game this season and lead the A-10 in turnovers forced, turnover margin and steals.
• VCU scored 17 of their points off of Billiken mistakes.
• VCU outscored Saint Louis in the paint 30-26, and the bench chipped in 15 points.

WHAT'S NEXT: VCU returns to the "Stu" on Sunday, Jan. 10 to host Saint Joseph's. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.