'Cats Drop Heartbreaker vs. VCU, 66-63

Wednesday, February 25

Davidson, N.C.

7:00 p.m.

Davidson College

5-23, 1-14 A-10

VCU

16-12, 7-8 A-10

VCU

Davidson

Photo by: SoConPhotos.com

2/25/2015 10:59:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Gavin McFarlin - Assistant SID

Box Score (pdf)
Game Highlights
DavidsonPhotos.com

DAVIDSON, N.C. — VCU's Isis Thorpe hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer spoiling Davidson's comeback on Senior Night and sending the Wildcats to a heart-breaking 66-63 defeat Wednesday evening in Atlantic 10 women's basketball action in John M. Belk Arena.

Davidson had erased an eight-point second-half deficit with a 10-2 run to tie things up at 63-all with 56 seconds left, but a turnover by the Wildcats with three seconds remaining on a throw-in gave the ball back to VCU. Under their own basket, the Rams inbounded the ball to Thorpe at the top of the key where she fired off a three-ball that went in with five-tenths of a second left.

The Wildcats' throw-in on their possession saw the ball get knocked down on their attempt to throw it the full length of the court.

Thorpe led four Rams (16-12, 7-8 A-10) in double figures with 16 points, 13 of them coming in the second half. Off the bench, Camille Calhoun scored 12 and Ashley Pegram added 11, while Adaeze Alaeze chipped in 10 points.

Hannah Early paced Davidson (5-23, 1-14 A-10) with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting with a couple of threes to go with a career-high tying 6-for-6 showing at the charity stripe. It was the junior's fourth 20-point outing this year and 12th of the career.

Freshman Mackenzie Latt continued her outstanding first year, dropping in 18 points on 8-fo-14 shooting and dished out five assists. Alexandra Long filled the stat sheet with six points, a career-high eight rebounds and five assists.

The duo's back-to-back three-pointers capped off the 'Cats' 10-2 run that erased the Rams' 61-53 lead in the final minute and a half. Latt (14) and Long (6) combined for 20 of Davidson's 37 second-half points.

Davidson had a chance to win it after VCU missed a shot inside with three seconds remaining, but on the ensuing play, the 'Cats tried for a full length inbounds pass only to have it go out of bounds without a player touching it, which allowed the Rams to hold possession under their basket.

Overall, the game featured 13 lead changes and nine ties, with five of those ties coming in the second half along with nine lead changes.

Early kept the 'Cats close in the first half with 12 points as the they trailed just 27-26 heading into the break.

Thanks to a 50 percent shooting performance in the second half, Davidson finished the game at 42.9 percent, while VCU was held to 38.2 percent.

For the sixth time in the past seven games, and 14th overall, the Wildcats hit the 40-rebound mark by pulling in a game-high 43. The Wildcats also dished out 19 assists on their 24 made field goals.

Playing their final home game were seniors Mellissa Giegerich (two points, four rebounds), Shannon Eriksson (two points, two rebounds) and Lillian McCabe (three points, a rebound, an assist and a block). The trio were honored prior to the start of the game for Senior Night.

Davidson closes out the regular season with a first-time trip to Fordham this Sunday for a 2 p.m. game.

GAME NOTES: Early has scored in double figures 25 times this year pushing her career total to 53 … Davidson's 10 offensive rebounds was the 24th time this year it has pulled in 10 or more in a game … VCU scored 16 points off Davidson's 19 turnovers, while the 'Cats only got five points off the Rams' nine miscues … VCU also held a 22-6 advantage on second-chance points ... Latt has registered 19 double-digit scoring games this year.