A special to Atlantic10.com by Zac Weiss
RICHMOND, Va.– Fifth-seeded VCU emerged as 64-57 overtime victors over fourth-seeded Rhode Island and have advanced to its third consecutive Atlantic 10 semifinal.
This was the first time a lower seed has beaten a higher seed in this year's Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship.
"What a fantastic game," VCU coach Beth O'Boyle said. "If you look at the A-10 tournament these last couple of days, I don't think there's been more overtimes and just really competitive and exciting games. I'm so excited that we can be a part of it. I look at our team and our performance today and all year we've been focusing on our leadership. We needed that for all 45 minutes, you saw that at the last play. They were just playing with such energy and heart. You know it's a game you just have to grind out. Rhode Island is so talented and well coached. Just proud that we're moving onto the semifinals.
VCU was led by Taya Robinson who scored 24 points and tied a career best with five three-point baskets. Robinson also brought down seven rebounds. Sarah Te-Biasu added 17 points which included four key free throws in the overtime period. Chloe Bloom achieved her second consecutive double-double as she netted 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
Rhode Island saw Marta Vargas lead the way with 17 points, matching Robinson with five triples of her own. Catherine Cairns pieced together 15 points and Emmanuelle Tahane earned 11 points and eight rebounds.
"I thought it was a very hard-fought game between two good teams," Rhode Island coach Tammi Reiss said. "I thought inevitably VCU's big three and their experience won out at the end of the game. Huge offensive rebounds when they needed it, big shots when they needed it and my hat's off to them. I thought they had a great game plan. We played extremely hard and unfortunately were very banged up this week. Losing Jo (Muzet) in the second half, our starting-three guard hurt us tremendously, in our rebounding especially. I'm proud of our kids, I thought they fought with everything they had and that's all I ask every day.
In the first half, it was Rhode Island which started strong opening with six of the first eight points. Rhody was able to set the pace and also owned a 6-1 advantage in offensive rebounds, a statistic VCU prides itself on.
Rhode Island turned those six offensive rebounds into nine second chance points and Tahane, the Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year scored nine points in the period as Rhody led by seven points after 10 minutes.
VCU was able to recover in the second quarter outscoring Rhode Island 17-7 in the period as it grabbed three offensive rebounds, which allowed the team to get back into its offense.
"We were definitely focusing on those second-chance points," said O'Boyle. "When you look at the first quarter, they were doing such a great job on the boards and we just refocused and said these are the plays that are going to dictate this game. If that ball goes up, we have to be willing to do everything and win those 50-50 balls. We didn't start the game that way, so we tried making the adjustment in the second quarter and I think that led to halftime and then obviously the last 25 minutes."
Down by eight points, VCU would tie the game as Robinson nailed two three-point baskets.
Though Rhode Island countered with a Marie-Paule Foppossi three-point shot, VCU closed the half on a 6-0 run taking a three-point advantage into halftime.
Both teams went on mini runs in the third quarter with a Cairns triple placing Rhode Island within two points.
Rhode Island would be held scoreless for the final 5:09 of the third quarter and also lost Muzet to injury during this stretch.
With Tahane not scoring and Foppossi held to three points, VCU was sticking to its game plan of packing in the post.
"We just had a big emphasis on packing in the paint and really shutting out their key players and I think we did that well this game," VCU's Chloe Bloom said.
VCU would score the last six points of the quarter, carrying an eight-point advantage into the final frame.
It was a 10-point advantage for VCU when Rhode Island went on a 6-0 run to draw within four points. Rhode Island hung in defensively and held VCU without a field goal for the final 4:14 of regulation.
Still VCU remained in front in the closing seconds when Cairns made a steal on an inbounds pass and was fouled. She calmly sank both free throws and the game entered overtime.
Rhode Island was held without a basket until 33 seconds remained in the final overtime period as VCU stuck together defensively and had three key offensive rebounds late to maintain possession.
Te-Biasu made four free throws late securing the victory.
"The message throughout the game never changed," said Bloom. "It was play our game and get stops. We just wanted to play steady and stay consistent throughout the whole game.
VCU will face top-seeded Dayton in the first of two Atlantic 10 Championship semifinal contests. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
This game is a rematch of last year's Atlantic 10 Championship final which Dayton won 52-48 at UD Arena.