VAUGHN, COSEL LIFT VCU PAST GEORGIA STATE IN OVERTIME, 75-64
1-21-07
Box Score

ATLANTA – Senior forward Miranda Smith (Chesapeake, Va./Indian River) hit a go-ahead layup at the 4:07 mark in overtime, while senior guard Michele Cosel (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) (pictured) and junior forward Krystal Vaughn (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton-Eastern) combined for nine points in the extra period to lift the Rams to a 75-64 triumph over Georgia State Sunday at the GSU Sports Arena.

VCU has won three straight to raise its record to 10-7 overall and 3-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Georgia State is 11-7 and 3-4 in the CAA.

Smith, who had six points and six rebounds, snapped the game’s 11 th and final tie when she converted a bucket off a Vaughn assist to give the Rams a 66-64 edge.

Two minutes later, junior guard LaKea Jones (Fort Washington, Md./National Christian Academy) found Cosel in the corner for a 3-pointer which extended the margin to 69-64 with 2:04 showing.

Vaughn put the final nail in the coffin when she drilled a bucket in the lane with 59 seconds left to make it 71-64. The Black and Gold would hit 4-of-4 free throws in the final minute.

The VCU victory overshadowed an outstanding game from the Panthers’ Kelsey Roegiers-Jensen. Roegiers-Jenson, coming off a career-high 30 points at UNC Wilmington Jan. 18, fired in 32 Sunday, including a 3-point bomb from the left wing with 10 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime. She also had eight assists, but VCU held her to two points and 0-for-6 shooting in the extra frame.

Vaughn finished with 16 points for the Rams, knocking down 6-of-9 field goals. Cosel kicked in 14, while Jones added 13 points and six assists.

Sophomore center Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) had 13 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 29 seconds left in regulation. It is her third double-double of the year and the 17 th of her career, moving her into sole possession of fifth place on VCU’s career list. It is also the third time in as many games against Georgia State that she has logged a double-double.

The Rams, who hit 4-of-7 shots in overtime, connected at 44 percent (28-of-63) for the game. They also forced 26 Georgia State turnovers, with Cosel ripping five steals of her own.

VCU returns to the floor on Thursday, Jan. 25 when it travels to arch-rival Old Dominion for at CAA contest at 7 p.m. in Norfolk, Va.