Final Score: (RV) VCU 59, UMES, 36
Location: Richmond, Va.
Records: VCU 11-1, UMES 6-6
  
The Short Story: VCU got a season-high 19 points from Timaya Lewis-Eutsey and the Rams outscored the Hawks 32-12 in the second half to cruise to the win.
 
OPENING TIP:

• Lewis-Eutsey scored her 19 points on 7-9 shooting. She also tied her season highs of nine rebounds and four assists
• Mary-Anna Asare scored 15 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting
• VCU's fifth-best scoring defense held an opponent under 40 points for the third time this season and limited the Hawks to almost half their season average in points per game
• The Rams held a 41-22 edge in rebounds and led 12-5 in second chance points
• VCU shot 45 percent from the field and 58 percent from 3-point range while holding UMES to 29 percent from the floor and 20 percent from 3-point range
• The Rams held a 12-5 advantage on second chance points

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Rams opened hot from the floor, shooting over 60 percent, making three 3-pointers from Sarah Te-Biasu, Asare, and Lewis-Eutsey to begin the game on an 11-3 run
• VCU struggled from the field in the second quarter, shooting just 25 percent, allowing the Hawks to get within 27-24 at halftime
• The third quarter opened with Lewis-Eutsey hitting from outside the arc, sparking an 8-2 run to push the Rams lead back to matching their largest of the first half at 35-26 
• Thanks to 60 percent shooting in the third period, the Rams lead grew to as many as 13 points before leading 44-32 heading into the fourth
• The fourth quarter saw the Rams widen the margin further, leading by as many as 23 points off a Jennifer Ezeh layup, capping off a 13-0 run. The run gave the Rams a 59-36 lead
• VCU held UMES to 19 percent shooting in the second half while shooting 50 percent

NOTEABLE:

• VCU played its first game since receiving a vote in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll. It was VCU's first vote in the poll since Jan. 7, 2014.
• The Rams continued their best start to a season since 2013-2014 and concluded non-conference play 11-1

 
UP NEXT: VCU returns to the Siegel Center on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 4:30 p.m. to host UMass and open Atlantic-10 conference play. The game will be a doubleheader, following the men's contest against Gardner-Webb at 2 p.m. Tickets for the men's game includes admission for the women's game.