Score: VCU 62, Maryland Eastern Shore 48
Location: Richmond, Va. (Stuart C. Siegel Center)
Records: VCU 1-0 (0-0), Maryland Eastern Shore 0-1 (0-0)
 
The short story: Mary-Anna Asare surpassed 1,000 career points as VCU used a 24-5 third quarter run to pull away for the season opening win.
 
OPENING TIP:

• Mary-Anna Asare's 23 points were a game-high as she went 7-of-18 from the field. She added seven rebounds and three assists
• Cyriah Griffin's 11 points marked the second-best scoring performance of her career. She went 4-of-6 from the floor, 2-of-2 from the line, and 1-of-1 from 3-point range
• Mary-Anna Asare and Tanya Tkachenko grabbed a game-high seven rebounds
• Patricia Augustin contributed eight points, five rebounds, and a game-high four steals in 21 minutes off the bench in her collegiate debut
• The Rams outscored UMES 22-8 in fast-break points, controlling the transition game
• VCU shot 84 percent (21-of-25) from the free throw line while the Hawks shot 44 percent (8-of-18) at the charity stripe

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• UMES jumped out to a 10-4 advantage with 4:36 left in the first quarter
• The Rams responded with a 10-0 run, as Asare scored VCU's first 10 points and helped VCU lead 14-10 with 2:02 remaining. UMES answered with a 9-0 run of their own to lead 19-14 heading into the second
• Both teams traded baskets in the second quarter and UMES carried a 32-29 lead into halftime
• Coming out of the half, a trio of three-pointers - two from Issy Whitelaw and another from Cyriah Griffin jumpstarted a 24-5 run across the quarter. VCU led 53-37 heading into the fourth quarter
• VCU led by double digits through the fourth quarter on the way to the win

UP NEXT:
VCU will travel north to face Villanova on Sunday, Nov. 9, in Toronto, Canada, at 2 p.m.