Final Score: (RV) VCU 65, UMass 45
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: RV VCU 12-1, UMass 2-11
 
The Short Story: VCU used an early 12-2 third quarter run to build a double-digit lead over UMass and opened up Atlantic 10 play with its ninth straight win
 
OPENING TIP:

• Jennifer Ezeh led VCU with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting and had six rebounds
• Sarah Te-Biasu scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in just 24 minutes. She set a new career high in steals with six and also had four assists
• Timaya Lewis-Eutsey and Mary-Anna Asare each had 10 points
• Mykel Parham had nine points and 11 boards, her fifth game with at least ten rebounds
• VCU's fourth-best scoring defense held an opponent to 50 points or less for the eighth time this season
• The Rams doubled up UMass in points in the paint, 32-16
• VCU shot 46 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range while holding UMass to 32 percent from the floor and 16 percent from 3-point range
• The Rams held a 41-23 advantage on rebounds

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Neither team established much flow offensively in the opening period, with 17 combined turnovers. VCU held a 17-16 lead heading into the second quarter
• The Rams tried to inch ahead in the second, building a 21-16 before UMass responded with a 7-2 run to tie it midway through the quarter
• VCU went on a 10-2 run, fueled by four second-chance points, capped off by a Deniz Torgut layup. The Rams led 33-27 at the half
• The third quarter opened with Parham cleaning up a miss and Asare hitting from outside the arc, stretching the lead to eleven and forcing an early UMass timeout.
• VCU's lead ballooned to 18 when Ezeh scored a layup, giving the Rams a 47-29 lead
• The Rams limited UMass to only three field goals in the third period to lead by 17 going into the final frame
• The fourth quarter saw the Rams widen the margin further, leading by as many as 24 points
• VCU held UMass to 30 percent shooting in the second half while shooting 40 percent in the win

NOTEABLE:

• VCU received two votes in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll, marking the second straight week the Rams received votes
• The Rams continued their best start to a season since 2013-2014, are now 12-1
• VCU is now 7-0 at home and won nine straight overall.

 
UP NEXT: VCU makes the short trip to Richmond for their crosstown matchup against the Spiders on Jan. 3 at 6 pm. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and MASN