Women’s Basketball Recaps

Rams stifle first-place Seahawks

VCU 54, UNC WILMINGTON 37

WILMINGTON, N.C., Jan. 15 – Rebounding from a sluggish conference start, VCU won their third Colonial Athletic Association game in a row behind junior guard Michele Cosel (Mechanicsville, Atlee High School), who scored a team-high 15 points.

VCU possessed its largest lead of the game early in the second half when sophomore guard Vera Chistova (St. Petersburg, Russia) sank a jumper to put the Black and Gold up by 17. Despite UNCW ripping off an 11-0 run, the Rams maintained the lead and held on for the victory.

The Rams dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Seahawks 38-33, and the defense played strong, forcing 20 turnovers.

Hollingsworth sets personal, school bests in win

VCU 69, GEORGIA STATE 60

Jan. 12 – Redshirt freshman Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake/ Great Bridge High School) scored 32 points, her highest in a Rams uniform, and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead VCU to a victory over Georgia State.

The Lady Panthers trailed at halftime 30-24, but trimmed the Rams lead to 30-29 early in the second half. Hollingsworth responded however, pouring in 22 points in the second half to seal the victory.

During the game the freshman center set school free-throw records with 16 attempts and with 20 made.

Rams tough defense slows Patriots, seals win

VCU 57, GEORGE MASON 55

Jan. 8 – Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake/ Great Bridge High School) had a solid performance once again, registering her sixth double-double and notching a career-high eight blocks, to lead VCU to a narrow victory.

Trailing 53-42 with 3:38 left, George Mason went on a 10-2 run to cut the margin to 55-52 with 26 seconds left. Hollingsworth ended the run with a pair of free throws to seal the win.

The Rams defense held strong throughout the game, holding the Patriots to just 32 percent shooting.

Monarchs stun Rams

OLD DOMINION 82, VCU 62

Jan. 6 – ODU never trailed in the contest after jumping to a quick 5-0 lead in the contest. The lead swelled to 16-6 with 11:05 left in the half and the Monarchs never looked back.

Sophomore guard Stephanie Merlo (Bangor, Pa.) scored a season-high 13 points, and guards LaKea Jones (Fort Washington, Md.) and Vera Chistova (St. Petersburg, Russia) scored 12 points each for the Rams.

ODU forced a season-high 28 turnovers against the Rams, while attempting 26 more field goals.

Cosel’s 3-pointer puts away Highlanders

VCU 59, RADFORD 57

Jan. 2 – Redshirt freshman Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake/ Great Bridge High School) finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead VCU, while junior guard Michele Cosel (Mechanicsville/ Atlee High School) added 10 points and eight rebounds.

With 3:03 left in the game, Hollingsworth sank two free throws to cap a 7-0 VCU run and gave her team a 52-51 lead. The Highlanders regained the lead with a 3-pointer to make it 55-54, but Cosel answered right back with her own 3-pointer to put the Rams up for good.

Rams dominate Norfolk State

VCU 67, NORFOLK STATE 48

Dec. 29 – Sophomore guard Vera Chistova (St. Petersburg, Russia) went 7-of-8 from the field to pour in a season-high 16 points to lead VCU to a rout of the Spartans.

The Rams offense surged, heading into halftime up 42-24 and hitting 49 percent of their shots.

Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Great Bridge High School) highlighted the Rams’ 42-27 rebounding edge, and the defense played strong as well, holding the Spartans to only 31 percent shooting.

Hollingsworth’s late-game free throws seal win

VCU 72, BELMONT 70

Dec. 21 – Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Great Bridge High School) played strong late in the game, scoring 14 of her 19 points and grabbing 14 of her 17 rebounds in the second half, to help VCU hold off Belmont.

Hollingsworth put the Black and Gold up 72-70 with 17 seconds left when she knocked down two free throws. The Bruins had a chance to tie the game with no time remaining when Belmont forward Alysha Clark missed the first of a one-and-one free throw opportunity.

Sophomore guard LaKea Jones (Fort Washington, Md.) scored 16 points and had five assists, and sophomore forward Krystal Vaughn (Baltimore, Md.) added 12 points.

VCU falls apart late

LEHIGH 75, VCU 59

BETHLEHEM, PA., Dec. 11 – Michele Cosel (Mechanicsville/ Atlee High School) scored 15 points but was unable to get her team to play well down the stretch as VCU fell to Lehigh.

The Rams were up 32-25 right before halftime, until Sara Ellis hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds remaining to cut the lead to 32-28 heading into halftime.

Lehigh responded with a 9-0 run to start off the second half. Tied at 52 with 5:30 remaining, Lehigh then put together a 13-3 run to pull ahead permanently.