Score: VCU 55, East Carolina 50
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 3-0, East Carolina 2-1
 
The short story: Sophomore guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey scored a team-high 13 points, and VCU bottled up explosive East Carolina on the way to its first 3-0 in 14 years Tuesday night at the Siegel Center.
 
OPENING TIP

• Lewis-Eutsey connected on 5-of-11 attempts from the floor and added five rebounds, two steals and a pair of assists for the Black and Gold
• Sophomore guard Mary-Anna Asare added 12 points and four rebounds, while senior guard Sarah Te-Biasu kicked in 10 points and two steals. Te-Biasu also hit a go-ahead, pull-up 3-pointer with 6:30 left in the contest
• VCU freshman forward Lucia Sotelo Miguez also turned in the best performance of her young collegiate career with a season-high nine points, seven rebounds and three steals
• East Carolina's Danae McNeal led all players with 18 points

 
THE DIFFERENCE

• Asare ignited a 13-2 VCU burst in the early stages of the fourth quarter with a traditional three-point play. Moments later, she capped the run with a 3-pointer that provided the Rams with a 46-40 advantage with 5:03 remaining. The Pirates chipped to within 48-47, but VCU connected on 7-of-8 free throws in the final 1:06 to clinch the victory
• The Pirates used a 12-3 run over the final 7:10 of the second quarter, sparked by five straight points by McNeal, to take a 25-21 lead into the locker room
• The Rams shot 60 percent (12-of-20) from the field in the second half
• VCU's defense smothered an East Carolina team coming off a 105-35 win over USC Upstate. The Rams held the Pirates to 36-percent (21-of-58) shooting in the contest, including 11 percent (1-of-9) from the 3-point line, and turned ECU over 23 times
• East Carolina was also hurt by 7-of-17 shooting at the free throw line
• The Rams owned a 39-29 edge on the glass

 
NOTABLE

• VCU improved to 3-0 for the first time since the 2009-10 season with Tuesday's victory
• The Rams recorded a season-best 13 steals
• Te-Biasu was honored in a pregame ceremony. The Montreal, Canada native recorded her 1,000^th career point in Friday's win at William & Mary

 
NEXT UP
VCU will head to Harrisonburg, Va., to take on in-state rival James Madison on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.