FINAL: VCU 85, Manhattan 64 (Richmond, Va. – Verizon Wireless Arena)

RECORDS: VCU (9-1), Manhattan (1-7)

VCU STARTERS: #22 Williams, #24 Parks, #34 Robinson, #44 Calhoun, #45 Thorpe

MANHATTAN STARTERS: #3 Skrec, #12 Stec, #25 Underhill, #32 Roeder, #35 Grimme

THE BASICS:

• Senior Robyn Parks scored a game-high 29 points for the second time in as many outings, and paced three Rams in double figure scoring as VCU cruised to its eighth straight win, 85-64, over Manhattan Friday afternoon in front of more than 1,300 area students as part of Education Day at the Verizon Wireless Arena. 
• Freshman Keira Robinson added 14 points, eight assists and five steals, while sophomore Jessica Pellechio chipped in 12 points off the bench.
• The Rams, who are off to their best start in six years, improve to 9-1 for the first time since 2007-08, and just the third time in the program's 40-year existence. 
• VCU also pushed its unbeaten streak to eight games, matching its longest since 2009-10.  The school record is nine, which occurred in 1994-95.
• The Black and Gold remains just one of just two Atlantic 10 teams with one loss on the season (Saint Joseph's).

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Manhattan shot 55 percent from the field, including five of its first seven from 3-point range, and raced out to a 27-15 advantage at the nine-minute mark.
• VCU halted the early run with six straight free throws by three different Rams, which sparked a massive 25-6 spurt the remainder of the half.  Trailing by 12 with 8:13 showing, the Rams scored 13 of the next 15 points and pulled within 29-28 on a layup from Parks with 3:38 to go. 
• Manhattan built a five-point advantage on a jumper by Shayna Ericksen with 2:23 remaining before VCU scored 12 straight points to close the half and took a 40-33 lead into the locker room.
• The Jaspers trimmed their deficit to four twice during the first 3:40 of the second half but it was as close as they would get the remainder of the contest.
• Kayla Grimme pulled Manhattan within 45-41 with 16:20 left but Parks scored six straight and senior Zakia Williams converted a fast break layup to push VCU's lead to 12 with 13 minutes to go.
• Grimme helped the Jaspers make one final push with 12 minutes remaining as she cut their deficit to 53-46, but freshman Isis Thorpe buried a triple on VCU's next possession to swing momentum back into the Rams' favor.
• VCU pushed its lead to 63-47 with 9:43 to play and eventually took a 23-point advantage on a pair of free throws with 2:50 showing. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• VCU scored 36 points off 25 Manhattan turnovers.  It was the third straight game and eighth time in 10 outings this season the Rams forced 20-plus miscues. 
• The Black & Gold, which improved to 10th nationally in steals (12.3 spg) this week, collected 19 against the Jaspers.  VCU has logged double-digit steals seven times this year.
• Robinson, who ranks second in the A-10 with 5.6 assists per game, dished out a team-high eight.  She is averaging 9.3 assists per game during her last three outings.
• VCU, which leads the league and ranks 23rd nationally with 8.1 treys per game, drained nine against Manhattan.
• The Rams hit 20-of-23 from the free throw line.
• Parks, who has scored in double-figures in 38 straight contests, posted her seventh 20-point game of the year to go along with seven rebounds.

WHAT'S AHEAD: VCU concludes its three-game home stand on Sunday, Dec. 22 against Florida A&M at 1 p.m.  The Rams then travel to NJIT on Dec. 28 before hosting Old Dominion on Dec. 30.