December 15, 2008

BACHVAROVA, RAMS POWER PAST MORGAN STATE, 71-43
Senior tallies career-high 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting
Box Score

RICHMOND, Va. – The fans of Virginia Commonwealth University women’s basketball have seen a new look from senior Radoslava Bachvarova (Varna, Bulgaria) over the past two games.

”I really had some trouble with my contact lenses in the early part of the year,” Bachvarova said. “The lenses were irritating my eyes and my new lenses won’t come in until May, so I had to go with the glasses.”

The glasses seem to be working just fine as the veteran drilled 8-of-14 from the field for a career-high 20 points to spark a dominating home victory over the Bears of Morgan State University in non-conference action on Monday evening at the Siegel Center.

”I was really pleased with our kids today,” Head Coach Beth Cunningham said. “Again our start was a big key for us. We came out with a lot of intensity and focus on both ends of the court and that’s how we need to play every game.”

Six points from junior Kita Waller (Gainesville, Ga.) sparked the Rams out of the gate as VCU jumped out to a 16-2 advantage with 14:17 on the first half clock.

Classmate La’Tavia Rorie (Charlotte, N.C.) (left) ignited a 9-0 run scoring five straight points to give the Rams their largest lead of the half at 34-12 with 5:29 left before halftime.

Four different Rams poured in at least six first-half points led by Bachvarova who drilled 5-of-9 in the first 20 minutes for 13 points to stake VCU to a 41-25 halftime advantage.

Morgan State would make its only run of the game coming out of the second half as a lay-up by Corin Adams brought the Bears within 13 at 46-33 with 16:47 remaining in regulation.

A three-pointer from Bachvarova and two lay-ups by Waller and sophomore Jessica Taylor (Woodbridge, Va.) (right) quickly turned it into a 20-point game again as the Rams claimed a 53-33 lead with 11:45 left.

The VCU defense would lock down during the final 10 minutes, holding the Bears to just five points during the final 10:46. Over that span, the Rams put together an 18-5 run led by five points from Taylor and Bachvarova.

”We really had a lot of key contribution from a lot of players tonight,” Cunningham said. “That’s what is going to make us dangerous is when we can get that kind of production from every player we put out there.”

Bachvarova led the scoring charge as the veteran tallied a career-high 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Classmate Quanitra Hollingsworth (Chesapeake, Va.) poured in 12 points, while Rorie chipped in 13 points and tied a career-high with nine rebounds.

“She [Bachvarova] really was great tonight, she was on fire,” Cunningham said. “It took her a little bit to adjust to the glasses, but obviously she’s fine with them now as she was a huge spark for us on the offensive end tonight.”

Junior D’Andra Moss (Atlanta, Ga.) gave a solid performance off the bench with eight points and nine rebounds, while Taylor had an outstanding all-around game with seven points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.

” [Taylor] is just one of those type of players that can make things happen in so many ways,” Cunningham said. “With the toughness and intensity that she brings to the defensive end, it’s really a great thing for us when she plays like she did tonight.”

Aaries Reed was the only Bear in double-figures with 11 points, while Erin Hawkins chipped in eight points in the losing effort.