Final Score: Stephen F. Austin 71, VCU 66
Location: Tempe, Ariz. (Desert Financial Arena)
Records: VCU (1-2), SFA (2-1)
 
The Short Story: Trailing by as many as 23 points, VCU battled all the way back to get within 68-66 with 48 seconds remaining but couldn't complete the comeback.

 
QUICK FACTS

• Janika Griffith-Wallace scored a team-high 19 points in her VCU debut, going 4-of-6 from 3-point range and adding six steals
• Sarah Te-Biasu scored 13 points shooting 5-of-7 from the floor
• Taya Robinson had 11 points, five rebounds and three steals
• Madison Hattix-Covington rounded out four Rams in double figures with 10 points and five rebounds
• VCU outscored SFA 29-7 in bench points and 23-5 in fast break points but allowed the Ladyjacks to shoot 56 percent from the field
• SFA was led by Zya Nugent who scored 26 points and Aiyana Johnson who added 22 points

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Rams got off to a slow start, allowing the Ladyjacks to start the game on an 21-6 run as they led 26-12 at the end of the first quarter
• VCU got back within 33-23 with 4:13 left before halftime but SFA outscored the Rams 15-3 to lead 48-26 at the break
• The Rams started chipping away at the SFA lead trailing 54-33 with 5:31 remaining, closing the quarter on a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to 58-45
• VCU cut into the lead further midway through the fourt quarter, holding SFA scoreless for over six minutes while going on a 13-0 run to make it 66-63 with 2:23 remaining
• The Rams got as close as 68-66 but missed shots on their final two possessions

WHAT'S NEXT
VCU hosts Buffalo on Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.