Final Score: Richmond 72, VCU 65
Location: Richmond, Va. (Robins Center)
Records: VCU 12-2 (1-1 A-10), Richmond 12-3 (2-0 A-10)
 
The Short Story: VCU allowed the Spiders to use a late 20-4 run to close the game, take their first lead and hold off the Rams. It marked VCU's first loss since Nov. 19.
 
OPENING TIP:

• Deniz Torgut scored a career-high 12 points, going 4-of-5 from 3-point range
• Mary-Anna Asare had 10 points and five rebounds
• Mykel Parham had six points and seven rebounds
• Richmond shot 50.9 percent from the floor, the highest allowed by VCU this season. The Spiders also shot 35 percent from 3-point range
• The Rams outrebounded the Spiders 35-28 and led in second chance points 15-7
• The Spiders were led by Grace Townsend who had 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• VCU opened the game on a 12-2 run in the first quarter and led by that margin with 6:35 remaining in the period after a Te-Biasu jumper
• The Spiders answered with a 5-0 run of their own but the Rams capitalized off eight Richmond turnovers to lead 23-13 heading into the second
• Mykel Parham scored a layup to begin the second quarter but Richmond cut into the Rams' lead with a 7-0 run. VCU led 25-20 with 7:02 left before halftime
• The teams traded buckets with the Spiders getting as close as two points twice but a Torgut 3-pointer gave VCU a 36-31 lead at the half
• The third quarter was back-and-forth affair with VCU only outscoring Richmond 18-17. The Rams led 54-48 heading into the final 10 minutes
• VCU pushed its lead to 61-52 on an Asare 3-pointer from the corner with 6:30 left
• The Rams struggled to get anything going offensively late as Richmond closed the game on the 20-4 run, taking its first lead and holding on for the win

 
UP NEXT: VCU travels to Davidson for a nationally televised matchup on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.