VCU women snap 12-game losing streak to ODU

It had been six years since the VCU women’s basketball team got a win over Old Dominion.

Sunday, in front the largest crowd to see a women’s game at the Siegel Center, the Rams beat the struggling Lady Monarchs, 58-51.

“I’m just really excited for our kids and for our program. Obviously a great win today . we just came out and battled and found a way to win,” coach Beth Cunningham said.

The win is Cunningham’s first over ODU since she became the head coach in 2003.

Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Va./ Great Bridge) led the way for VCU. Hollingsworth was relentless down the stretch and finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds on the day.

“For the past five years I’ve had passion for this game [against ODU] . we got out there and got it done,” Hollingsworth said.

“Q,” as Hollingsworth is called by her teammates, is now only seven rebounds away from being the first player in VCU women’s basketball history to get 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. She also nailed down her 48th double-double of her career on Sunday.

Other than Hollingsworth, the Rams put three more players in double figures.

Senior Radoslava Bachvarova (Varna, Bulgaria/ Daytona Beach C.C.) poured in 11 points hitting three 3-pointers on the day. D’Andra Moss (Atlanta, Ga./Norcross) and La’Tavia Rorie (Charlotte, N.C./ Harding University HS) finished with 12 and 10, respectively.

For Old Dominion, the injury bug has been biting over the past couple of weeks. Seven players didn’t even make the trip for the Lady Monarchs and only eight players were eligible.

“This has been an interesting time for this basketball team . But nobody feels sorry for Old Dominion, and nobody should feel sorry for Old Dominion,” coach Wendy Larry said.

Despite a light bench, the Lady Monarchs turned it over to the Rams 25 times in the game and according to coach Larry, that was the most critical stat.

Tiffany Green led the ODU scoring. She had 21 points and 12 rebounds. And Jasmine Parker scored 12.

“In the standings every game counts the same . there is a lot of season left and we just got to continue to stay focused, take it one game at a time and just keep chipping away,” Cunningham said.

With the win, he Rams are now 17-4 and 6-2 in the CAA. They came into Sunday in a four-way tie for first in the conference, but one of those teams was ODU who now drops to 6-3 in the league and 11-8 overall.

VCU hits the hardwood again on Thursday. The home game will serve as a revenge game against UNC Wilmington, who upset the rams just one week ago.

The SCore
VCU 58
ODU 51