VCU women’s basketball off to best start in 10 years with win over Old Dominion

Very few things are guaranteed in college basketball, but VCU women’s basketball facing off with rival Old Dominion in December is almost certain.

The Rams have played the Monarchs in December nine of the past 10 years, and the two teams have played every year since the 1969-70 season. Suffice to say, they’re familiar with each other.

So when the two met at Siegel Center on Sunday afternoon with only one loss between the both of them, there was an expectation that the game would be spectacle. It delivered, with the Rams winning 64-50.

“What an incredible women’s basketball game,” VCU head coach Beth O’Boyle said. “I think when you’re looking at two really good teams and two teams that are in the top in the country defensively, we knew it was going to be a battle.”

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The Rams improved to 10-1, quite an improvement from last season’s 7-22 campaign. It’s the best start for VCU in 10 years.

“I think the biggest piece is how do you respond one when there’s tough times,” O’Boyle said. “It was a really difficult season. They came into the summer, they all stayed, they decided to be committed to here, they got better … And they’ve earned every piece of this record.”

Graduate forward Mykel Parham, coming off an ACL injury last season, is part of that committed effort. She said it was her teammates that helped her get through her rehab.

Those bonds are the reason why wins, like the one against visiting ODU, mean more.

“I really leaned on my teammates,” said Parham, who finished with nine rebounds. “When I came back … it was like, I hadn’t missed a beat. So it makes days like today super special, because I just won a really hard ball game with some of my sisters and most of my best friends.”

Parham’s performance was part of Sunday’s defensive show — ODU entered the game with the top scoring defense in the country, and VCU wasn’t too far behind at seventh. Historically, the games between the in-state rivals are low-scoring, with the Rams averaging just over 65 points per game.

VCU women’s basketball improved to 5-0 when winning the opening tip-off against ODU.

Sunday, VCU finished with 27 defensive rebounds.

“One of the biggest things that goes into to your defense is your rebounding,” O’Boyle said. “I thought even today when we had a couple of turnovers, we sprinted back and got huge plays to get another stop. We want to show everybody how that defense looks like lots of times.”

The score was tied after the first quarter at 13. The Rams started out hot, jumping out to an early 7-2. However, the home team ended the quarter on a scoring drought.

“I think we’ve really talked about finding each other,” graduate forward Samantha Robinson said. “Just trying to share the ball and get the best shot we could.”

Things took off in the second quarter and Old Dominion never recovered from it. The Rams went on a 17-2 scoring run and scored 10 consecutive points in the final two minutes of the first half.

VCU held a 34-21 lead at halftime that it never relinquished.

“We knew it was gonna be a battle, and we wanted it to be a battle,” Parham said.

ODU cut its deficit a few times in the second half but never pulled even with the Rams. Senior guard Sarah Te-Biasu led the Rams with 13 points, and sophomore guard Timaya Lewis-Eutsey added 11. Senior forward Jennifer Ezeh had nine rebounds.

The Rams, with one game remaining before A-10 play begins, are content with where they are but are determined to keep improving.

“It really showed us like where we’re at as a team,” Robinson said. “I think just showing us always we can work on what we’re doing well, I think today was a great test for us.”

VCU hosts Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday. Old Dominion fell to 8-1 ahead of hosting No. 3 North Carolina State on the same day.

“We didn’t want them to not feel our pressure or anything like that,” Parham said. “We wanted them to know, we are VCU women’s basketball. And this is what we’re all about. And I think we accomplished that goal.”

PHOTO GALLERY: VCU vs. Temple 121723-rtd-sp-vcubb

VCU guard Zeb Jackson attempts to score while Temple forward Steve Settle III and Temple center Emmanuel Okpomo attempt to block on December 16, 2023, at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Va. MARGO WAGNER/TIMES-DISPATCH