By: Cameron Branscomb
VCU Women’s basketball was looking for revenge against Rhode Island in their A10 quarterfinal tournament game today after getting beat by 19 in their regular-season match. Rhode Island and Emmanuelle Tahane started hot. Tahane led all scorers in points in the first quarter with nine, Rhode Island got out to an early 20-13 lead. In the second quarter, VCU’s defense showed up and held Rhode Island to seven points for the entire quarter. Taya Robinson got hot from beyond the arc and made three, three-pointers in the quarter. She led all scorers at the half with 13. VCU led at the half 30-27
The defense didn’t stop at halftime. Rhode Island was held to just nine. In the third quarter Rhode Island guard Joanna Muzet suffered an injury and did not return to the game. She had eight total points before her injury and four in the quarter. VCU held a one-point lead going into the fourth, 44-43. A combination of a scoring drought and late turnovers Rhode Island was able to tie the game after Catherine Carins two free throws late in the fourth quarter. After regulation, the score was tied 54-54.
In overtime, it was all VCU. Taya Robinson hit a three to give VCU the lead and Sarah Te-Biasu made 4 clutch free throws to seal the game. Rhode Island was held to just three points. VCU would go on to win 64-57. Taya Robinson scored 24 points. She added a great boost hitting 5 of 10 attempted three-point shots. Sarah Te-Biasu added 17 points and Chloe Bloom had a double-double game with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
VCU will move on to the semi-finals and play Dayton.
