Score: VCU 57, Saint Joseph's 50
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 9-8 (3-2), Saint Joesph's 12-4 (3-2 A-10)
 
The short story: Mary-Ann Asare and Valentina Ojeda combined for 43 of VCU's 57 points and Mykel Parham collected a career-high 17 rebounds to earn VCU a major A-10 victory.
 
OPENING TIP:

• Mykel Parham had a career-best 17 rebounds, the most in a game by a VCU player since Robyn Parks had 20 against Richmond in 2013
• Mary-Anna Asare's 26 points were a game-high and the second-most of her career. 17 of her points came during the second half
• Valentina Ojeda's 17 points was her second-best scoring performance this year. She went 7-of-10 from the floor
• The Rams shot 33 percent (6-of-18) from the 3-point line while holding the Hawks to 25 percent (3-of-12) from beyond the arc. The Hawks came into the game shooting 37.7 percent from deep
• VCU outscored Saint Joseph's 16-11 in points off turnovers, with Saint Joseph's committing 16 and the Rams committing 15
• Laura Zeigler led the Hawks with 19 points and Talya Brugler tallied a double-double with 11 rebounds and 10 points

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• VCU took an early 6-2 lead with a pair of 3-pointers from Asare and Ojeda
• The Hawks answered with a 7-0 run before Ojeda layup snapped the run. Saint Joseph's held 11-8 edge after the first quarter
• Asare forced a turnover and driving to the basket with three minutes left in the opening half to give the Rams a 19-18 lead, its first lead since early in the first
• The teams went back-and-forth and Saint Joseph's led by two at the half, 22-20
• The Hawks led 25-20 early in the second before VCU went on a 6-0 run in the third quarter to regain the lead on a Zoli Khalil jumper
• The Hawks answered with a 7-0 run of their own to lead 32-26 with 2:26 left in the third
• The Rams again answered, this time with a 13-2 run across the end of the third quarter to lead 39-34 with 9:14 left. Asare scored eight of VCU's 12 points during the run
• VCU and Saint Joseph's were tied twice but VCU never trailed in the fourth quarter. With the score 42-42 with 5:58 left, VCU used a 9-0 run spakred by Ojeda and Khalil 3-pointers to put the game away

 
UP NEXT:
VCU will host its next A-10 matchup against Rhode Island on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at the Siegel Center. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.