Score:Â Duquesne 67, VCU 57
Location:Â Pittsburgh, Pa.
Records:Â VCU 10-12 (4-6), Duquesne 14-6 (5-4 A-10)
Â
The short story:Â VCU trailed Duquesne just 50-47 with 2:52 left in the third quarter but an 11-2 run across quarters by the Dukes proved to be too much for the Rams to overcome.
Â
OPENING TIP:
- Mary-Anna Asare led the Rams in scoring with a game-high 17 points, going 7-of-16 from the floor
- Valentina Ojeda and Zoli Khalil each added 14 points
- Mykel Parham grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and added four points
- Duquesne shot 10-of-28 from 3-point range while VCU was just 6-of-21. VCU led in rebounding 47-37
- The Dukes outscored the Rams 29-6 in bench points. VCU led 13-2 in second chance points. The Rams committed 18 turnovers while the Dukes committed just eight
- Duquesne was led by Mackenzie Blackford who had 15 points
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The first quarter was a back-and-forth battle with VCU trailing 12-11 before going on an 8-0 run sparked by an Asare layup
- The run gave the Rams an 18-12 lead with 1:54 left in the third quarter
- The Dukes responded with a 13-2 run spanning across quarters to lead the Rams 25-20 with 7:08 left before halftime
- VCU chipped away at the deficit and an Asare 3-pointer got the Rams within 31-30 with 3:19 left before halftime. VCU trailed Duquesne 37-34 at the half
- The Dukes used an 11-4 run to lead 48-38 with 6:22 left in third
- VCU climbed back within 50-47 on Lucia Sotelo layup with 2:52 left in the third quarter
- Duquesne then went on an 11-2 run across the third and fourth quarter to take a 61-49 lead.
- VCU held Duquesne scoreless for over a 5:30 stretch of the fourth quarter but was unable to capitalize offensively
Â
UP NEXT:
The Rams return home as they host Davidson on Sunday, Feb. 2 for a noon tip. The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
Â