RICHMOND, VA – On Sunday, the VCU women’s basketball team fell to crosstown rival Richmond Spiders, 68-55. The Spiders secured their 14th consecutive victory with the win and clinched the Atlantic 10 regular-season title. Maggie Doogan led the Spiders with a dominant 33-point performance, while Mary-Anna Asare paced the Rams with 16 points. Richmond shot an efficient 54% from the field (25-46), while VCU finished at 39% (21-53).
The Rams started strong in the first quarter, jumping out to an early lead after a three-pointer by Mary-Anna Asare put them ahead 8-4 with 5:59 remaining. Richmond responded, taking its first lead at 9-8 on a layup by Faith Alston with 3:59 left. Asare answered with another three-pointer to reclaim the lead for VCU, 11-9. However, the Spiders countered with a three from Anna Camden, giving them a 16-13 advantage with 1:50 left. In the final seconds, a layup by Doogan tied the game at 18 heading into the second quarter.
VCU struck first in the second quarter, as Asare’s jumper gave the Rams a 20-18 edge. A layup by Zoli Khalil extended the Rams’ lead to 25-20 with 7:27 to play. Richmond answered with a 6-0 run, capped by a Doogan layup, to pull ahead 26-25. VCU briefly regained the lead on a Valentina Ojeda three-pointer (28-26), but the Spiders responded with an 8-0 surge, highlighted by another Doogan basket, to take a 34-28 advantage. The Rams managed to close the gap before halftime, trailing just 35-34 at the break.
Richmond controlled the third quarter, fueled by Doogan’s 10 points in the period. The Rams struggled offensively, scoring only nine points in the quarter. A layup by Addie Budnik capped a 7-0 run, giving the Spiders a 50-41 lead with 3:16 remaining. Asare ended the drought with a jumper, but VCU entered the fourth quarter trailing 50-43.
In the final period, Ojeda’s layup trimmed the Spiders' lead to 55-49, but Richmond responded with a decisive 13-0 run, punctuated by a pair of Doogan free throws, to seize their largest lead of the game at 68-49 with 1:45 left. VCU closed the game with a 6-0 run, highlighted by a Khalil three-pointer, but the Spiders held on for the 68-55 victory.
The Rams (12-16, 6-10 A-10) will return to action on Wednesday, February 26, when they face Loyola Chicago. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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