November 14, 2008

BACHVAROVA’S LAST-SECOND FREE-THROWS GIVE RAMS THRILLING 59-57 VICTORY OVER LIBERTY
Senior drills three free-throws with :02.1 remaining
Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Virginia Commonwealth University women’s basketball team did not wait long into its 2008-2009 campaign to give its fans a thrilling game.

Senior Radoslava Bachvarova (Varna, Bulgaria) knocked down three free-throws with :02.1 remaining in regulation to give the Rams a 59-57 road victory over Liberty University on Friday evening at the Vines Center.

The loss is the first home defeat in 14 games for the Flames as they finished a perfect 13-0 in 2007-2008. It also was the first time in eight seasons that Liberty had dropped its home opener.

For the Rams, it was their 17th straight victory in November with their last loss coming during the 2004-2005 season.

The Rams came out of the gates blistering hot with three-pointers from Bachvarova, D’Andra Moss (Atlanta, Ga.) (right), and Kita Waller (Gainesville, Ga.) to claim an early 12-0 advantage with 15:25 left to play in the first half.

VCU continued its strong defensive play holding a potent Flames offensive to just six points in the first 10 minutes of play.

A three-pointer from freshman Jennifer Lane (Wichita, Kan.) and a lay-up by junior Stephanie Solomon (Las Vegas, Nev.) gave the Black and Gold its biggest lead at 21-4 with 10:48 showing on the first-half clock.

Megan Frazee made sure the Flames stayed in the game drilling 7-of-8 from the field for 18 first-half points and brought Liberty within four at 31-27 as the teams headed to the intermission.

The teams traded baskets back and forth to start the second-half before Frazee knocked down a three-pointer from the right wing to give Liberty its first lead of the game at 45-44 with 11:01 remaining in regulation.

Sophomore Jessica Taylor (Woodbridge, Va.) gathered a loose ball and drilled a three-pointer as the shot clock ran out to reclaim the lead in VCU’s favor, 51-47, with 8:13 on the second-half clock.

A lay-up by Frazee gave the Flames their biggest lead at 54-51 with 3:11 left, but VCU answered with three free-throws as the score remained tied entering the final minute of play.

After the teams traded baskets, Avery Warley knocked down the front end of a pair of free throws with six seconds remaining to give Liberty a 57-56 lead.

Bachvarova gathered the rebound, sped up court and was fouled on her three-point attempt with :02.1 left in regulation.

The senior calmly stepped to the charity stripe and drilled all three to give the Black and Gold a thrilling, hard-fought 59-57 road victory.

Bachvarova and Waller each chipped in 13 points to lead the offensive output for VCU, while senior Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Va.) tallied 10 points and eight rebounds in her first game back from an Achilles injury that kept her out the last half of the 2007-2008 season.

Frazee was the only Flame in double-figures with 28 and also grabbed 11 rebounds in a losing effort.

The Black and Gold defense was outstanding all night long forcing 24 turnovers and holding Liberty to just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc.

VCU will now travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. for a Sunday match-up with No.4/5 North Carolina. Game time will be announced later this evening.