Score: VCU 75, Rider 60
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 3-2, Rider 1-4
 
The short story: VCU used a hot shooting first half to take a 40-19 halftime lead and cruise to the win over Rider.
 
OPENING TIP:

• Timaya Lewis-Eutsey led VCU with 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting in just over 24 minutes of play
• Valentina Ojeda scored a career-high 12 points, her second straight game of setting a career mark, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field along with four assists
• Mykel Parham was just short of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds
• The Rams shot 54.2 percent from the floor for the game and 54.5 percent from 3-point range. VCU held Rider to shoot just 34.5 percent in the first half while the Rams shot 56.5 percent in building an early lead
• VCU didn't allow a single offensive rebound to Rider and held a 38-17 advantage on the glass as well as a 9-0 edge in second chance points
• Rider was led by Gabby Turco who scored a game-high 18 points

 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Rider scored the game's first bucket but the Rams went on a 12-0 run capped off by a Grace Hutson 3-pointer to lead 12-2 with 6:09 left in the first
• Rider cut the Ram's lead to 15-11 but the Rams outscored them 7-2 over the final 2:25 of the frame to lead 22-13 heading into the second
• VCU opened the second quarter on a 15-4 run to take a 37-17 lead with 4:10 left before halftime on a Deniz Torgut 3-pointer from the wing
• Rider used a 18-2 run to get back within 48-37 with 2:39 left in the third quarter but would get no closer the rest of the way
• VCU ended the threat early in the fourth quarter with a 14-4 run to start the quarter and pushed the lead back to 68-44 with 5:08 remaining after a Lewis-Eutsey free throw

 
UP NEXT:
VCU travels to Cancun for the Cancun Challenge at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya Nov. 28-30. The Rams will face Providence first at 11 a.m. EST on Nov. 28 and the game will be streamed on Flo Sports.