Final Score: VCU 55, George Mason 45
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 5-11 (2-2 A-10), George Mason 9-9 (2-3 A-10)
 
The Short Story: VCU used a lockdown defensive effort while Mary-Anna Asare's career-high 15 points pushed the Rams past the Patriots.
 
OPENING TIP: 

• Asare shot 6-of-7 from the field and grabbed eight boards
• VCU had three players score in double figures including Sarah Te-Biasu who had 14 points
• Janika Griffith-Wallace had 11 points and eclipsed 1,000 career points for her career in the game. She scored 488 points and Murray State and the remainder
• It was the fewest points scored by an A-10 opponent since the Rams' held George Mason to 41 points back on Jan. 13, 2021
• The Rams used their defensive presence to limit the Patriots' shooting opportunities as they went 17-of-61 from the field including 5-of-22 from three
• The Black and Gold also limited second chances, outrebounding the Patriots 48-37. Mykel Parham led the way for the Rams with 11
• VCU dominated the paint outscoring George Mason 26-18
• George Mason was led by Paula Suarez who had 12 points

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
 

• VCU opened the first quarter on an 11-0 run that began with Te-Biasu's three-pointer 14 seconds into the game
• The Rams established an early defensive presence holding the Patriots to just seven points in the first quarter and 2-of-18 shooting
• The Patriots made three 3-pointers in the last 1:05 of the second quarter to cut the Ram's lead to nine heading into the break
• VCU came out of halftime on fire as the Rams went an 8-0 run that lasted for just over the first four minutes of the third quarter, giving them a 38-21 lead
• The Patriots' chipped away at VCU's lead to five points in the fourth quarter on three separate occasions but VCU had a response each time
• The last time Mason cut the lead to five, VCU responded with a 7-0 run to go up 53-41 on a pair of Te-Biasu free throws 
• The Ram's defense was suffocating down the stretch, forcing the Patriots to shoot 0-of-8 from three in the fourth quarter

 
UP NEXT:
VCU hosts Davidson at the Siegel Center on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.