HOLLINGSWORTH’S 20 POINTS FUEL COMEBACK, BUT VCU FALLS SHORT, 63-57
1-7-07
Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – Virginia Commonwealth University sophomore center Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Va/Great Bridge) scored 17 of her 20 points in the second half to lead a furious Rams’ rally, but it wasn’t enough to overcome an ice-cold first half and Hofstra in a 63-57 loss Sunday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.

VCU slips to 7-6 overall and 0-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association. Hofstra improves to 12-2 and 2-1 in the CAA.

Hollingsworth, who was 12-of-14 at the free throw line, knocked down a pair with 41 seconds remaining to pull VCU to within 58-57. It was the closest the Rams had been all game and was an unlikely scenario, given Hofstra’s 15-point advantage earlier in the half.

On the Pride’s ensuing possession, Niki Williams drew a foul and canned a pair from the line to make the score 60-57.

The Rams had one last gasp, but a 3-point attempt by senior guard Michele Cosel ( Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) caromed off the rim with 20 seconds remaining. On free throw by Lana Harshaw and two Williams in the final 17 seconds sealed the outcome.

Junior guard LaKea Jones ( Fort Washington, Md./ National Christian Academy) had 11 points, while freshman forward D’Andra Moss ( Atlanta, Ga./Norcross) kicked in 10 points and six rebounds off the bench for VCU.

HU’s Cigi McCollin led all scorers with 21. The Pride also received 12 points and 15 rebounds from Lizanne Murphy and 15 points and seven boards from Vanessa Gidden.

VCU trailed, 40-25, after McCollin drilled a jumper with 14:45 remaining. However, the Rams turned up the defense to stage a 15-4 run over the next six minutes to pull within 44-40. McCollin’s bucket at the 13:21 mark was Hofstra’s last until she canned a 3-pointer with 8:10 showing, a span of 5:21.

Hollingsworth converted a traditional three-point play at 10:27 to make the score 44-38 with 10:27 on the clock. Then, a rebound and lefty putback by Moss trimmed it to 44-40. Following McCollin’s 3-pointer, Hollingsworth hit a layup and the Pride turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds play. That led to a three-point play from junior forward Krystal Vaughn (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton-Eastern) to make it 47-45 with 6:35 left.

Hofstra would push the margin back out to six, at 57-51, but two Hollingsworth free throws and a breakaway layup from Cosel turned it back into a two-point game with 1:40 left.

VCU had an inauspicious beginning, missing its first 12 field goal attempts of the contest. A Vaughn layup gave the Rams’ their first points with 14:14 remaining in the period. The Rams shooting did not improve much the rest of the half. VCU shot 18-percent, connecting on 6-of-33 attempts from the field and trailed, 29-21 at the break.s

VCU returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 10 when it heads to Towson, Md. to face the Towson Tigers at 7 p.m.