Score: Rhode Island 85, VCU 42
Location: Kingston, R.I. (Ryan Center)
Records: VCU 8-17 (4-9 A-10), Rhode Island 22-2 (12-0 A-10)

The short story: VCU could not overcome an early 22-2 run and fell 85-42 to Rhode Island. 

OPENING TIP:

• Sophomore guard/forward Katarina Knezevic grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds for VCU. She tied a season-high with three offensive rebounds
• Junior forward Lucy Ghaifan scored seven points on 3-4 shooting from the field and added seven rebounds
• Graduate forward Makennah White led VCU with eight points and added four rebounds
• Rhode Island shot 32-68 (47.1 percent) from the field and 8-22 (36.4 percent) from beyond the arc. VCU shot 16-63 (25.4 percent) from the field and 2-25 (8.0 percent)
• Vanessa Harris led Rhode Island with 16 points and added six rebounds
• This is the largest margin of defeat for VCU since losing to Minnesota in 2017

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Rhode Island jumped out to an early 22-2 lead in the first quarter as VCU was held scoreless for the first 4:41 of the game
• After URI took a 29-6 lead to end the first quarter, VCU and URI went back-and-forth in the second quarter before a 3-pointer from Vanessa Harris gave Rhode Island a 45-17 lead at halftime
• Rhode Island continued their dominance in the 3rd quarter, outscoring VCU 23-9 in the frame thanks to 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line 
• URI led by as much as 51 points in the fourth quarter

UP NEXT:

VCU returns home for Senior Day and Alumni Day on Saturday, Feb. 14 as it hosts St. Bonaventure at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.