GAME DETAILS
VCU 88, Saint Louis 84 (OT)
Wednesday, February 21, 2018 | 6 p.m. (EST)
E.J. Wade Arena | Richmond, Va.
THE BASICS
• Jackie Kemph scored 19 of her team-high 23 points in the second half to lead a Saint Louis rally, but the Billikens fell to VCU 88-84 in overtime Wednesday night at E.J. Wade Arena.
• The Billikens slipped to 14-14 overall and 8-7 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. VCU improved to 7-20, 4-11.
FIRST QUARTER
• VCU led by six points on two occasions before Saint Louis made a late run.
• The Billikens used a 9-2 spurt, including two Tara Dusharm baskets and a Jordyn Frantz 3-pointer, to go on top 19-18.
• VCU led 20-19 at the buzzer.
SECOND QUARTER
• Frantz nailed another trey with 7:50 left to tie it at 24.
• Both teams experienced a lengthy scoring drought before Jenny Vliet scored in the lane to put the Billikens in front 26-24 at the 4:06 mark.
• VCU outscored SLU 11-3 the rest of the way and took a 35-29 advantage to the locker room.
THIRD QUARTER
• The Rams earned their first double-digit lead, 41-31, with 7:58 to play, and were ahead 43-32 with 5:25 remaining.
• The Billikens chipped away, using five points from Aaliyah Covington and four from Kemph to narrow the gap to 50-45. A VCU free throw made it 51-45 heading to the fourth quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
• VCU outscored Saint Louis 11-5 in the first 2:45 of the period to register its largest cushion, 62-50.
• It was 70-60 with just over three minutes left when the Billikens began the surge that would force the game into an extra session.
• Kemph ignited the run with a three-point play. Maddison Gits made a layup following two offensive rebounds, and Kemph chalked up another three-point play to trim the lead to 70-68 with 1:38 left.
• After VCU committed a turnover, Kemph drove for the game-tying bucket with 44 seconds to play. Both teams missed chances to win in regulation, and SLU found itself in its third overtime game of the season.
OVERTIME
• After the teams traded baskets, VCU took the lead for good with 3:22 left.
• The Rams led by as many as eight points and made enough free throws down the stretch to hold off the Billikens.
BILLIKEN NOTABLES
• Saint Louis earned a 42-38 advantage on the boards.
• Kemph’s 23-point performance included 9-of-11 from the free throw line. She had a game-high six assists.
• Jenny Vliet grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
• Aaliyah Covington scored 11 points.
• Maddison Gits, Paige Rakers and Tara Dusharm tallied 10 points apiece. Gits narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
VCU LEADERS
Tera Reed, 24 points, six rebounds; Nyra Williams, 15 points; Danielle Hammond, 14 points, eight rebounds; Taya Robinson, 14 points, six rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Billikens close the regular season Saturday, Feb. 24, against Dayton at Chaifetz Arena. Tip time is 2 p.m. The SLU senior class will be honored following the game.
