Score: VCU 63, UMass 49
Location: Amherst, Mass. (Mullins Center)
Records: VCU 22-4 (11-3 Atlantic 10), Massachusetts (3-24, 1-14 A-10)
 
The short story: VCU's Grace Hutson scored a career-high 16 points as the Rams pulled away late the third quarter en route to the win.
 
OPENING TIP

• Beth O'Boyle tied Beth Cunningham for the most wins at VCU with 167
• Hutson scored 16 points, shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range while also grabbing four rebounds
• Sarah Te-Biasu had 10 points and four rebounds
• Mary-Anna Asare was the third Ram in double figures with 10 points and two rebounds
• VCU outscored UMass 24-6 in points off turnovers. The Rams forced 20 Minutewomen turnovers in the game
• VCU went 17-of-19 from the free throw line while UMass was 8-of-14
• The Minutewomen were led by Stefanie Kulesza who had 13 points

HOW IT HAPPENED

• VCU took an early 5-2 lead but the Minutewomen went on a 7-0 run to lead 9-5 with 3:57 left in the first quarter
• A Mary-Anna Asare 3-pointer jumpstarted an 11-2 run by VCU to give the Rams an 16-11 with 24 seconds left. VCU led 16-12 heading into the second
• The second quarter saw UMass slowly cut VCU's lead to 24-22 with 2:39 left before halftime before Hutson hit back-to-back 3-pointers. Her 6-0 run put VCU back in control and the Rams led 33-24 at the half
• UMass cut VCU's lead to 35-32 with 5:51 left in the third quarter but a Zoli Khalil jumper helped a 6-0 spurt that helped give the Rams a 41-34 lead heading into the fourth
• VCU turned up the pressure in the fourth, leading by as many as 15 points at 58-43 with 5:42 left in the game. The Rams cruised to the win

 
NEXT UP
The Rams host Saint Joseph's on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Siegel Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.