Score: VCU 69, Fordham 58
Location: Richmond, Va. (Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 8-14 (4-6 A-10), Fordham 9-12 (1-9 A-10)
 
The Short Story: VCU utilized a dominant first quarter to jump out to an early 19-7 lead and fended off a second half rally en route to a 69-58 victory over Fordham.
 
OPENING TIP

• Lucy Ghaifan led the Rams with 14 points off the bench and grabbed seven rebounds
• Cyriah Griffin had a career-high eight rebounds and six assists. She also reached double-figures for the fourth time in her past five games with 11 points
• Ann Zachariah added 11 points along with five rebounds
• Katarina Kneževic had a strong all-around performance with 12 points, four rebounds, two steals, and an assist
• VCU shot 41 percent from 3-point range (7-of-17) while Fordham shot 17.2 percent (5-of-29)
• VCU's bench outscored Fordham's 39-21
• Lakresha Edwards led Fordham with 15 points

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a wire-to-wire victory for VCU as a Griffin jump shot gave them a 2-0 lead and VCU would not relinquish that lead for the rest of the game
• VCU closed out the first quarter on a 13-2 scoring run, capped off by a Ghaifan layup to give them a 19-7 lead
• The Rams pushed their lead to 18 points as Makennah White made a 3-pointer to give them a 34-16 lead with 4:25 remaining until halftime
• Fordham responded with a 9-2 run of their own before a Kneževic jumper gave VCU a 38-25 lead at halftime
• Fordham got withing 54-49 with 6:24 remaining in the game but VCU allowed Fordham to get no closer for the remainder of the game.

 
UP NEXT:
VCU hosts its third annual SupportHER game on Sunday, Feb. 1 presented by Synergy in a matchup with crosstown rivals Richmond. The game will tip at noon and nationally televised on ESPNU.