RORIE’S 16 POINTS NOT ENOUGH FOR VCU IN 60-56 LOSS TO RICHMOND
12-6-06
Box Score

RICHMOND , Va. – A career-high 16 points from freshman La’Tavia Rorie (Charlotte, N.C./Harding University H.S.) was not enough for Virginia Commonwealth University as the Rams fell to cross-town rival University of Richmond, 60-56, in women’s basketball action on Wednesday evening at the Robins Center.

VCU has lost two straight to slip to 6-2 on the season. Richmond improves to 4-7.

Richmond scored three straight points to tie the game at 56-56 and with 22 seconds left Sarah Williams connected on a 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Spiders a 59-56 lead.

The Rams charged up the floor and junior point guard LaKea Jones ( Fort Washington, Md./ National Christian Academy) (pictured) got a good look at a 3-pointer, but her attempt caromed off the front rim and the Spiders’ Erin Hawkins ran down the rebound. She was fouled with 2.7 seconds left and made one of two from the line to salt away the UR victory.

Rorie, whose previous best this season was seven points, nailed 6-of-8 shots from the floor, including a perfect 2-of-2 from 3-point territory. Jones added 10 points and five assists for VCU.

Sarah Williams supplied a game-high 21 points and Nikita Thomas provided 12 points and 10 rebounds to propel Richmond. The Spiders also owned a 36-30 rebounding advantage.

With the teams trading baskets to start the game, senior Michelle Cosel (Mechanicsville, Va./Atlee) nailed a three-pointer from the right wing with 13:32 showing on the clock to give the Rams an early 9-7 lead.

Williams scored seven of Richmond’s next 13 points as the Spiders sprinted out to a 20-13 advantage after a three-pointer from Williams’ with 10:13 showing on the first half clock.

Rorie led a Black and Gold 14-4 run as she connected on a three-pointer from the top of the key with 3:54 remaining in the first half to give VCU a 27-24 lead. The newcomer scored seven of the Rams’ 14 points during the run. The two teams would go into the locker room knotted at 28-28.

Thomas scored six straight points, all on offensive putbacks, as the Spiders took a 36-30 lead in the opening minutes of the first half.

Rorie brought the Black and Gold back, however, connecting on a layup and a 3-pointer as the Rams stormed back and grabbed the lead 42-40 with 8:56 showing.

Cosel struck again from long distance with 5:42 remaining to give the Rams their largest lead of the contest as they held a 52-46 advantage.

After the Spiders got five straight points from Kara Powell to even the score at 53-53, Jones banked home a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to give VCU a 56-53 lead with 3:08 remaining.

VCU hits the road for its next contest when it visits the University of Toledo for a Saturday, Dec. 9 tilt at 7 p.m.