Score: Rhode Island 46, VCU 41
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 6-12 (2-4), Rhode Island 15-2 (6-0)
 
The short story: VCU rallied to a fourth-quarter lead behind its second-fewest points allowed this season, but Rhode Island survived the comeback bid to defeat the home Rams 46-41.
 
OPENING TIP:

• Patricia Augustin missed the game and has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury
• VCU allowed its second-fewest points by an opponent this season
• Makennah White led VCU's offensive effort with 12 points
• Laia Crespín recorded a career-best seven rebounds
• Rhode Island held the slight edge from the field, shooting 35 percent while VCU shot 33 percent
• VCU went 5-of-19 beyond the arc, compared to URI's 6-of-25
• Brooklyn Gray's 15 points and 11 rebounds paced Rhode Island

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In a defensive first quarter, Rhode Island secured a 7-2 lead
• URI held onto its game-opening lead as VCU entered the half trailing 23-10
• VCU surged in the third quarter and closed the period trailing just 28-25 after Cyriah Griffin sparked a 10-0 run and capped it off with a layup. Griffin scored nine of her 11 points in the quarter as VCU trailed just 31-28 heading into the fourth
• In the fourth quarter, back-to-back 3-pointers from Ann Zachariah and Makennah White gave VCU its first lead since the first quarter with 2:26 on the clock
• Rhode Island manufactured a 7-0 run to regain its lead with under two minutes remaining for a 46-41 final

 
UP NEXT:
The Rams will face cross-town rival Richmond on the road at noon on Sunday, January 8, in the Robins Center. The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.