HOLLINGSWORTH’S BIG SECOND HALF PROPELS VCU TO THIRD STRAIGHT
2-18-07
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – Sophomore center Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Va./Great Bridge) scored 16 of her game-high 18 points in the second half and junior forward Krystal Vaughn (Baltimore, Md./Lake Clifton-Eastern) chipped in with 17 in Virginia Commonwealth University’s 61-52 win over George Mason Sunday at the Alltel Pavilion at the Stuart C. Siegel Center.

VCU has won three straight to surpass its win total from a year ago and improve to 14-11 overall and 7-8 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The victory, The Rams’ second over the Patriots this season, moves VCU into a fifth-place logjam with Towson, William & Mary and Georgia State, which all lost Sunday. George Mason sunk to 8-17 overall and 2-13 in league play with the loss.

Hollingsworth connected on 6-of-8 shots from the field in the second half and grabbed 10 rebounds to register her eighth double-double of the season. It is also her 22nd career double-double in 52 games, moving Hollingsworth in to a tie with Lauren Hogan for third on the school’s all-time list.

Vaughn nailed 6-of-13 attempts from the field and hauled in five rebounds in 27 minutes off the bench for VCU. Junior guard LaKea Jones (Fort Washington, Md./National Christian-Academy) contributed 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Lateisha Wade led George Mason with 16 points and six rebounds, but made just 6-of-19 shots from the field. Nikkia Slade added 10 points.

The game marked the second time this season the Black and Gold have overcome a halftime deficit to beat GMU. Sunday, VCU fell behind 24-21 at the break, but ratcheted up the defense to hold the Patriots to 31-percent (9-of-29) shooting in the second half. The Black and Gold also out rebounded Mason, 26-18 in the second half and held a 40-37 edge on the boards in the game.

Hollingsworth gave VCU a 26-25 lead with a traditional three-point play with 18:44 remaining. The Rams would never trail again. The VCU lead swelled to 10 at 46-36 when Hollingsworth connected on another three-point opportunity with 7:21 left.

George Mason rallied to within five points on two occasions, but each time Hollingsworth converted a bucket to push the margin back to seven points.

VCU returns to floor on Thursday, Feb. 22 when it heads to UNC Wilmington for a CAA match-up at 7 p.m. at Trask Coliseum.