VCU cruises past Virginia Tech in opener

With questions regarding how well VCU’s women’s basketball team would handle not having its two leading scorers from last season surrounding them, the Rams took to the court Monday in search of their first win of the season.

Virginia Tech would put up little test for VCU as the Rams put five players into double figures and rolled over the Hokies, 72-58.

“This is a great win for our team and our program,” VCU coach Beth Cunningham said. “Each kid stepped up and made plays for us.”

The teams battled back and forth in the first half, with neither able to gain a huge edge on the scoreboard.

With a one-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining, VCU closed the half on an 8-3 run making the halftime score 30-24.

The second half would be all VCU as junior Stephanie Solomon (Las Vegas, Nev./Georgia Perimeter College) and sophomore Courtney Hurt Conyers, Ga. (Salem) set out to answer the questions surrounding the Rams’ post play.

Solomon would grab five offensive rebounds on the night and score six of her teams’ first nine points out of the locker room.

“We did have a big emphasis on rebounding and turning those into good shots,” Solomon said. “I know my guards were working hard to get me on the boards.”

Solomon’s early dominance in the half was all part of a 15-4 VCU run that pushed the Ram lead to 45-28.

From there Virginia Tech would battle back into the game, going on a 16-5 run of their own, pulling to within six of the VCU lead.

“Once we finally started to bow up, we got back in it,” said Virginia Tech coach Beth Dunkenberger. “It is frustrating because we just did not play well.”

Despite the Hokie run, the Rams were not to be denied on this night. They would outscore VT 22-14 the rest of the way and roll to the 72-58 win.

The Rams put five players into double figures led by Hurt, who scored 16. Solomon recorded a double-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds.

Ebony Patterson (Chester/L.C. Bird) surprised many with a 10 points, six assist night as she took over injured Kita Waller’s (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) roster spot.

“Most people haven’t gotten to see Ebony play. She has been in my dog house here for a while, but she has a huge upside and it has taken her two years to really understand what it takes,” Cunningham said.

With the impressive performance, VCU answered many questions that had been posed during the off-season.

The team heads to South Orange, N.J. next to play in the Seton Hall tournament. The Rams kick off with Arkansas State on Friday.