Box Score Box score

A strong second half surge by the Rams pushed VCU past Northeastern, 82-55, Sunday afternoon at Solomon Court. The Huskies trailed 42-31 at the half before VCU scored 40 second-half points to Northeastern's 24 to clinch the victory.

The Huskies drop to 8-14 (3-8 CAA) on the season while VCU improves to 13-8 (8-3 CAA).

Northeastern was led by sophomore Christine Huber, who notched 12 points while gathering six rebounds, three blocks, two steals and a pair of assists. Junior Kashaia Cannon also scored in double-digits with 10 points, going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. The guard added three assists and two rebounds on the afternoon. Sophomore Deanna Kerkhof added eight points and four steals for the Huskies, while Mia Mayberry and Dani Iervolino both chipped in six points.

Courtney Hurt scored a game-high 21 points to go with 10 rebounds for the Rams, while Andrea Barbour (17 points) and Sonia Johnson (16 points) also reached double figures.

Hurt started the scoring for the Rams with a jumper to open the game before Mayberry responded on the other end with a jumper of her own. The teams exchanged baskets to knot the score at 5-5 before the Rams broke away with a jumper from Barbour to ignite a 4-0 VCU run. Iervolino broke the Rams' scoring streak with a steal then a three-pointer which was followed by a layup from Hurt. Jessica Taylor continued the scoring for the Rams with a three from the wing for a string of nine unanswered points for VCU before Huber notched a jumper from inside the paint to put the Huskies back on the board at 18-11.

Northeastern brought the margin to within five following a Tiffany Crews layup before Johnson notched her first basket of the night with a three to put the Rams ahead 23-15. Northeastern used two jumpers from Mayberry and a pair of free throws from Cannon to close in on the Rams, bringing the score to 28-21 with under five minutes to play in the half. Huber's layup brought the Huskies within five but Jennifer Lane pushed the Rams' lead back out to eight with a long three.

Huber drained a three as the shot clock expired for the Huskies but the Rams quickly regained a double-digit lead at 36-26 with 2:41 left on the clock. VCU held on to its double-digit lead to carry a 42-31 advantage into the locker rooms at the half.

The Rams scored the first points of the second half off a Chelsea Snyder jumper to spark a 15-0 VCU run before Cannon notched Northeastern's first basket of the half at 15:55. Huber followed with her second three of the afternoon but VCU quickly responded with a jumper from Barbour on the Rams' next possession, putting the score at 61-36.

Huber netted a pair of free throws and Kerkhof followed with a layup but the Rams maintained their double-digit lead with two consecutive three-pointers from Jacqueline Brewer to keep the Rams on top 69-42 with 10:15 left on the clock.VCU took its largest lead of the afternoon thus far with a Hurt layup, making the score 72-42. Kerkhof responded on the other end with a jumper for the Huskies but Hurt notched another layup to maintain the 30-point lead.

The Rams earned their largest lead of the afternoon from a Johnson layup with just under three minutes to play to put the score at 80-46. Conroy responded on the other end for the Huskies with a layup of her own and the Huskies closed out the game with a layup from Tunstull and free throws from Kerkhof and Cannon, as Northeastern fell 82-55.

The Huskies shot 32.8 percent of the floor (19-of-58) while the Rams managed a 53.3 percent clip (32-of-60). VCU also converted on 9-of-17 attempts from beyond the arc (52.9 percent), while Northeastern struggled for a 22.7 percent mark (5-of-22).

The Rams dominated the Huskies on the board, pulling down 47 rebounds compared to Northeastern's 47. VCU grabbed 16 offensive rebounds which led to 23 points for the Rams, while Northeastern managed nine offensive rebounds, leading to eight points.

Northeastern hits the road for a pair of games in the upcoming week with the first stop coming in Norfolk, Va. where the Huskies will battle George Mason Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m.