Final Score: VCU 74, Duquesne 70 (OT)
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 6-5 (1-0 A-10), Duquesne 5-9 (0-2 A-10)
 
The short story: VCU and Duquesne battled in a game with 11 ties and seven lead changes before Madison Hattix-Covington hit a 3-pointer with 1:55 left in overtime to push VCU's lead to 72-67 and the Rams held on for the win.

OPENING TIP:

• Taya Robinson scored a team-high 17 points while adding six rebounds
• Sarah Te-Biasu scored 16 points along with four rebounds and two assists. She shot 6-of-13
• Janika Griffith-Wallace scored 14 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting
• Madison Hattix-Covington was the fourth Ram in double figures scoring a season-high 15 points and eight rebounds
• VCU shot 38.1 percent from the floor while Duquesne shot 43.3 percent, but the Rams went 17-of-23 at the free throw line. The Dukes were 6-of-8 from the charity strip
• The Rams led 15-8 in points off turnovers and 14-9 in second chance points

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Duquesne opened the game on a 7-2 run in the first 1:14 of game play before VCU outscored the Dukes 24-15 for the remainder of the quarter. The Rams led 26-22 heading into the second
• The Rams pushed their lead to 34-24 with 6:14 left before halftime after two free throws from Madison Hattix-Covington. It was the largest lead VCU held during the contest
• The Dukes outscored the Rams 13-6 to end the half but VCU held a 40-37 lead
• VCU and Duquesne were locked into a defensive third quarter that saw the teams tied at 43-43 with 4:03 left. The Dukes clung to a 51-49 lead heading into the fourth
• The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair that had four ties and two lead changes. The Rams led 64-60 with 2:50 remaining after a pair of Keowa Walters free throws but a 3-point play from Megan McConnell gave the Dukes a 65-45 lead with 1:11 left
• Taya Robinson tied the game at 65-65 with on a free throw with 46 seconds left. Neither team was able to score again during regulation and the game went to overtime
• The Rams never trailed in overtime but after Duquesne tied the game at 67-67 with 3:19 left, VCU got back-to-back baskets from Te-Biasu and Hattix-Covington to seal the win

UP NEXT
The Rams travel to Saint Louis, Mo. on Sunday, January 9 for a 2 p.m. tipoff. The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.