Score: VCU 65, Duquesne 63
Location:  Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 7-7 (1-1 A-10), Duquesne 9-4 (0-2 A-10)
 
The Short Story: VCU's Mary-Anna Asare poured in the second-most points in school history with 37 as the Rams fended off a furious fourth quarter rally by Duquesne.
 
OPENING TIP:

• Mary-Anna Asare led all scorers with a career high 37 points, going 15-for-26 from the field and 3-for-8 from beyond the arc. It ranks second all-time at VCU for a single game behind Courtney Hurt's 40 points against UMKC on Nov. 19, 2011
• Mykel Parham led the Rams with a career-high 15 rebounds while also adding four points and two assists. Her 15 rebounds mark the most for VCU since Chloe Bloom grabbed 16 rebounds
• VCU led the game for 38:50 while Duquesne led for just 32 seconds
• The Rams shot 43 percent from the field compared to the Dukes 37 percent. VCU held a 42-30 edge in rebounds
• The Rams led the game for 38:50
• Duquesne was led by Megan McConnell who scored a team-high 24 points along with five assists and five rebounds

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Duquesne scored the game's first points directly off the tipoff before VCU answered with a 10-0 run capped off by a Grace Hutson 3-pointer. VCU led 10-2 with 7:45 left in the fourth quarter
• VCU was outscored by Duquesne 7-1 as the Rams lead shrunk to 11-9 with 2:52 left in the quarter. The Rams led just 15-14 after the first 10 minutes
• The Rams led for the entirety of the second quarter but didn't hold a lead larger than 35-29 with 52 seconds left before halftime following an Asare basket. VCU led 35-31 at the break
• The Rams started off the third with a 7-1 run which was capped off by a Asare 3-pointer to give VCU a 42-32 lead
• The Rams were able to outscore the Dukes 10-6 in the final four minutes of the third quarter to take their biggest lead of the game at 59-44 heading into the fourth
• Duquesne was able to stifle the Rams in the fourth as they started the fourth quarter with a 16-2 run to cut VCU's lead to 61-60 with 4:34 left in the contest
• The Dukes took the lead at 63-62 following a 3-pointe from Jerni Kiaku with 34 seconds left
• VCU answered as Asare drove in for a layup to take back the lead at 64-63 with 24 seconds on the clock
• The Rams were able to get back-to-back defensive stops with Lucía Sotelo sealing the win with a steal with 3.2 seconds left

 
UP NEXT:
VCU will host Dayton on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 1 p.m. at the Siegel Center. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.