VCU ends seven-game losing streak with home win over Mason

Michele Cosel (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee High School) only made three of 16 field goals, but her five points in the last minute pushed VCU to a 58-54 win over George Mason.

Cosel connected on a 3-pointer with 40 seconds remaining. She then made a layup at the buzzer off a pass from Vera Chistova (St. Petersburg, Russia) to seal the win. The Patriots missed four shots in the last 8 seconds of play. The Patriot Center crowd saw 14 lead changes and 11 ties during the game. Neither team topped 20 percent from behind the arc.

Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake/Great Bridge High School) led the Rams with 17 points and 16 rebounds, her 12th double-double of the season. Cosel finished with 13, and Brittany Pinkney (Clinton, Md.) and Chistova each added nine. Lateisha Wade led the Patriots with 17 points.

VCU led 27-25 at the half, but GMU turned up the heat and took the lead for 11 minutes. Six ties came in the last 6 minutes. Helping the Rams was their 14-for-20 free-throw shooting in the half.

With the win, the Rams break a seven-game losing streak that puts their record at 12-12 and 5-10 CAA. Up next is a trip to the Ted Constant Convocation Center and a meeting with perennial CAA champ Old Dominion.