Score: Richmond 68, VCU 55
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 12-16 (6-10 A-10), Richmond 24-5 (15-1 A-10)
 
The short story: VCU battled Richmond throughout an entertaining contest but with the Rams trailing 52-47 with 8:50 remaining, the Spiders used a 12-2 run to pull away for the win.

OPENING TIP:

• Mary-Anna Asare scored a team-high 16 points, shooting 7-of-16 from the floor
• Valentia Ojeda scored 13 points and shot 5-of-11 from the floor
• Zoli Khalil was the third Ram in double figures with 13 points, shooting an efficient 4-of-6 from the field
• Richmond shot 54.3 percent from the floor while the Rams shot 39.6 percent
• The Spiders outscored VCU 20-11 in points off turnovers and 36-12 in points in the paint
• Richmond's Maggie Doogan had a game-high 33 points on 12-of-16 shooting

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• VCU took an early lead after an Asare 3-pointer put the Rams up 8-4 with 5:59 left in the first quarter
• The rest of the quarter went back-and-forth with four lead changes and five ties. The two teams were deadlocked at 18-18 after the first
• The Rams opened the second quarter on a 7-2 run to lead 25-20 on a Khalil layup with 7:27 left before halftime
• Richmond answered with a 14-3 run to take a 34-28 with 2:45 left in the second quarter. The Rams used a quick 6-1 spurt and trailed Richmond just 35-34 at the half following an Ojeda 3-pointer
• VCU trailed 43-41 with 5:39 left in the third quarter before a 7-0 run by the Spiders gave them a 50-41 advantage with 3:16 remaining in the quarter
• The Black and Gold fought back within 52-47 on a jumper from Asare with 8:50 remaining but Richmond's 16-2 run following put the game out of reach

UP NEXT:
VCU hosts Loyola Chicago on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 6p.m. for its annual Play4Kay game raising money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.