Cold shooting, turnovers doom Rams

The last time VCU stepped on the floor at The Robins Center in 2006, the Rams came away unsuccessful against cross-town Richmond. In 2008, the Spiders were once again able to send VCU home with a loss.

The Rams shot 31 percent and committed 21 turnovers in a 56-48 loss Wednesday night. The starting five was held to 26.3 percent shooting and was responsible for 71.4 percent of the turnovers.

“I don’t think we came out and played with the toughness and aggressiveness that we needed to play with, really on either end of the floor,” VCU head coach Beth Cunningham said.

The Spiders jumped out to a 15-4 lead early in the first half behind an 11-0 run. Two Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake/Great Bridge) free throws tied the score, 4-4, with 16:57 to play in the first half before Richmond went on its run. Back-to-back baskets by Kita Waller (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) gave the Rams their first points in over six minutes and cut the lead under double digits, 15-8. Richmond took a 26-15 lead into halftime behind 10 points from Brittani Shells.

“Offensively, in the first half, Shells really opened the floor up whether creating shots or getting shots for other people,” Cunningham said.

Shells and the Spiders shot 50 percent in the first half while the Rams were held to 20.8 percent. Both teams committed 13 turnovers.

Unfortunately for the Rams, there simply wasn’t enough time in the second half to put together an effective comeback.

“It wasn’t until the nine-minute mark that we started to play with that urgency that we needed to play with from the beginning,” Cunningham said, referencing a late run made by her team.

After the Spiders stretched the lead to 17 with 13 minutes to play, VCU went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to nine with nine minutes to play. After exchanging scores with the Spiders for a few minutes, the Rams were finally able to put together a stop and consecutive baskets to cut the deficit to 43-36 with 3:53 left in the game. However, the Rams were unable to get any closer than six the rest of the way.

Hollingsworth led VCU with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Waller had 11 points and five rebounds. Shells led all scorers with 16 points.

The Rams are back in action Sunday afternoon when the Georgetown Hoyas visit the Siegel Center. Tip-off is 2 p.m.

By the numbers

VCU (4-2): Hollingsworth 15, Lane 2, Bachvarova 5, Rorie 0, Moss 9, Patterson 0, Waller 11, Taylor 6. Totals: 18 10-13 48. 3-pointers: Bachvarova, Waller.

Richmond (7-0): Shells 16, S. Bilney 2, Thomas 3, Bell 7, Goring 8, Tharrington 0, Oliver 4, R. Bilney 3, McKnight 13, Zygaite 0. Totals: 22 7-12 56. 3-pointers: Shells 2, Bell, R. Bilney, McKnight.