WOMEN’S BASKETBALL- Hollingsworth, Waller score in double figures in Rams’ win

Sophomore Kita Waller (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) scored 15 points and added a career-high 12 rebounds – her first career double-double – leading the Rams to a 71-46 win over Hofstra Sunday at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

Hofstra got on the board first, taking an early lead. Senior Krystal Vaughn (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton-Eastern) scored the Rams’ first three points and it wasn’t until Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake/Great Bridge) converted on a short jumper six minutes
into the game that another Ram scored.

Two minutes later, sophomore D’Andra Moss (Atlanta, Ga./Norcross)
made the first of two free throws to put VCU up 10-9. Hofstra did not close the gap that close for the remainder of the game.

Hofstra’s Candice Bellocchio gave VCU trouble throughout the first half. The freshman’s ball handling ability allowed her to scoot past defenders and create her own off-balance shots. Bellocchio netted eight first-half points and did not miss a shot from the field or the free throw line.

The Rams held a slim 30-25 advantage at halftime, but opened the second half on an 18-6 run to gain control of the game’s momentum. Hofstra was unable to counter and suddenly had no answer for VCU’s defense.

“We talked in the locker room at halftime that we needed to be in the right spots at the right time defensively,” Waller said. “Our defense usually leads to our offense. We got after it in the second half on the defensive end and that helped us produce offensively.”

The Pride tried to match the Rams’ defensive intensity, but instead was over-aggressive and committed fouls instead of forcing turnovers. VCU was in the bonus with more than 13 minutes remaining. Hofstra’s foul trouble allowed VCU to make 13 second-half free throws, while the Pride made none with only one attempt.

Bellocchio went cold in the second half, missing all six shots she attempted from the field, including two three-pointers. Her contributions shifted from scoring to distributing, as she assisted on seven of the Pride’s 10 second-half field goals.

The Pride was held scoreless for the game’s final 4:14 on the way to its 11th double-digit loss of the season.

Vera Chistova (St. Petersburg, Russia/St. Petersburg) made her first appearance of the season, playing the final two minutes of the second half.

VCU improves to 16-2 overall and 6-1 in the CAA, moving into a tie with Towson for second place. Hofstra drops its fourth consecutive game and is now 3-15 overall and 1-6 in the conference. The Rams, who are now 9-0 at home, will host Towson Thursday for sole possession of second place.

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INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Hofstra (1-6 CAA, 3-15): Rodgers 17, Campbell 0, Bellocchio 8, Brigham 13, Williams 4, Fripp 0, Terry 0, Wilcots 0, Uzamere 0, Biedny 2, Quamme 2. Totals: 19 6-7 46. 3-pointers: Rodgers, Brigham.

VCU (6-1 CAA, 16-2): Vaughn 9, Bachvarova 0, Hollingsworth 16, Jones 6, Rorie 9, Patterson 2, Waller 15, Chistova 0, Taylor 0, Moss 8, Pinkney 6. Totals: 24 20-31 71. 3-pointers: Rorie 2, Waller.