Dayton, Ohio- In September, redshirt senior guard Shakeela Fowler came up to coach Shauna Green with a promise, that their Dayton Flyers were going to win the A-10 Tournament.

“She (Green) said she felt the pressure and I said ‘we better win because I did tell her that,’” Fowler said. “I’m just glad we both got to keep our promise to one another.”

Six months later, the top-seeded Dayton Flyers successfully fulfilled that promise defending UD Arena to win its third-ever Atlantic 10 Championship and first since 2017, over second-seeded VCU by a 52-48 score Sunday afternoon.

Dayton (25-8) was led by All-Tournament Team selection Kyla Whitehead’s third double-double of the season with her 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Most Outstanding Player Jayla Scaife also notched 13 points. Dayton’s bench also made an impact outscoring VCU’s 16-7 and held VCU to four assists compared to 13 turnovers.

“I am so proud of these guys,” Dayton coach Shauna Green said. “It wasn’t pretty, but this group continues to find a way to win games and it’s always someone different. This is one of the closest and toughest teams I have been a part of, so this one means a lot. I felt a lot of pressure to make it happen for these guys (the seniors). I can’t say enough of how proud and happy I am that they went out on top. I have never wanted to win a game so badly for these group of kids.”

All-Tournament Team choice Taya Robinson was one of three VCU (20-12) players to achieve double figures with her game-high 14 points. Tera Reed scored 11 points in her first start since recovering from injury. All-Tournament Team recipient Danielle Hammond had 10 points on the afternoon and Sydnei Archie added nine rebounds for VCU.

“We would like to congratulate Dayton, they played a heck of a game,” VCU coach Beth O’Boyle said. “When the two of us battle it comes down to those final possessions. I am proud with how the team battled. This was a great atmosphere, what a great A-10 final. For all of the adversity we have faced this year and to make a second Atlantic 10 Championship final, I am proud. Today we have to learn how to handle such a tough loss.”

From the opening tip, it was clear that both teams had scouted well and this would be a defensive battle between the two teams.
VCU scored the game’s first three points, but Dayton was able to steady itself, shooting 40% from the field, the shooting percentage by either team in a quarter. 

Even so, Dayton which had started quickly in its previous two games had its lowest first-quarter point total in Atlantic 10 Championship play and had to focus in on defending VCU.

Throughout the game, Dayton’s defense contained VCU through the end of the shot clock and forced the Rams to attempt tough shots or commit a shot-clock violation.

“What we pride ourselves in here at Dayton is our defense, that is our number one thing,” said Green. “It’s really won us so many games this year. Our offense has sputtered and today we struggled to score in stretches, so our defense put us in position to win the game and really to win a championship. Really the last couple of days had teams that had the best defenses.”

VCU opened the second quarter scoring the first seven points as it dialed up its aggression making baskets and getting to the free-throw line, reclaiming the lead in the process.

From there, the two teams battled for control as Dayton regrouped and when Scaife made a basket with 21 seconds remaining in the first half, it sent both teams to its respective locker rooms tied at 25.

VCU was challenged in the third quarter when Hammond picked up her fourth foul nearly at the halfway mark of the frame. The Rams, who have overcome several injuries on the season now had to overcome losing the program’s all-time leading shot-blocker. 
“She’s the anchor of our defensive side and our offense also runs through her,” O’Boyle said. “There haven’t been many games where we had to play without her. I thought we stepped it up, kept our composure and got some good looks.”

Dayton also had foul trouble as both Scaife and Erin Whalen had three fouls, but the Flyers exited the third quarter up three points. Whitehead opened the fourth quarter scoring four of Dayton’s opening six points. VCU was down seven after the mini run, which to that point was the largest deficit either team faced and opted to call a timeout.

VCU and Dayton once again battled for control as the Flyers led by three down the stretch of this contest. 

The teams offset free throws when Reed made two for VCU and Scaife matched her with 38.5 seconds remaining for Dayton. Following a timeout, Reed drove to the basket where she converted a layup with a Dayton defender converging on her.

VCU had to play the foul game and needed three more whistles to send Dayton to the line, where All-Defensive Team selection Araion Bradshaw calmly rattled in both of her free throws.

When Reed missed a three-point shot coming out of VCU’s final timeout, Dayton was successfully get to the free-throw line where Scaife split free throws. When Robinson’s three-point shot was blocked, Dayton successfully dribbled out to end the game.

2020 Atlantic 10 All-Championship Team
Bre Cavanaugh- Fordham
Danielle Hammond- VCU
Taya Robinson- VCU
Kyla Whitehead- Dayton
Jayla Scaife- Dayton
 
Most Outstanding Player
Jayla Scaife- Dayton