VCU stops JMU

SLIDESHOW: VCU vs. JMU

Kenny Brooks understands not only the X's and O's of basketball but also those of chess. Specifically, he understands that sometimes you must sacrifice a few pawns to protect your queen.

Brooks held gimpy point guard Dawn Evans, one of the nation's most prolific scorers, out of yesterday's showdown with CAA rival Virginia Commonwealth University. The result was entirely predictable. VCU, wielding its defense like a scimitar, knocked the Dukes out of a three-way tie for first place with a 61-43 victory.

Evans, limping visibly on the ankle she sprained in the second half of Thursday's victory over Hofstra, watched from the sideline as her teammates struggled to score against a defense described by Brooks as the league's best. JMU shot 29.8 percent from the floor (17 for 57) and 18.2 percent (2 for 11) from 3-point range.

"Had this been a championship game, I'll bet [Evans] would have tried to play," Brooks said. "But let's face it: Basically, this was just for bragging rights. We're going to be very, very cautious with her. We're not going to risk her for just one game. It's far more important that she be as healthy as she can possibly be" when the Dukes play host to the CAA tournament in 3½ weeks.

VCU (11-2, 21-4) did what first-place teams are expected to do under such circumstances. It never trailed after the first 5½ minutes. Two extended droughts -- two points in seven minutes in the first half and one point in 8:15 in the second -- doomed the Dukes to their fifth consecutive loss to VCU.

Rams coach Beth Cunningham said her club prepared and practiced under the assumption that Evans would play. And even though she and her 24.3-point scoring average were parked on the bench, Cunningham said, "That guaranteed us nothing. We learned from experience that we still had to go out there and battle and fight and find a way to win the game."

Teams confronted by stark adversity, she said, "seem to have a way of rallying and pulling together."

VCU's veterans refused to permit such an occurrence yesterday. Senior guard Radoslava Bachvarova delivered 16 points, a harvest that included a pair of 3-pointers; and senior post player Quanitra Hollingsworth contributed the 48th double-double of her career (12 points and 14 rebounds). Hollingsworth, active and intense, often seemed to be playing at a level that JMU could not match.

"It hasn't hit me yet that I'm coming to the end of my [college] career," Hollingsworth said. "What has hit me is that the tournament is coming. I saw how our team performed last year [in the postseason], and I want to be a part of it this year. That's where my motivation and intensity is coming from."

Hollingsworth, shelved by an Achilles injury, missed last year's run to the CAA title game and then to the second round of the postseason NIT.

"This year, I want a ring," she said. "We were close last year. This year, I'm working to get better and the team is working to get better so it doesn't slip away again."

Focus notwithstanding, the Rams needed a bit of good fortune. JMU (10-3, 17-7) cut its deficit to seven early in the second half and appeared to have momentum. The crowd of 2,074, the second-largest to watch VCU play in the Siegel Center, was growing restless when Rams guard La'Tavia Rorie launched a long 3-pointer from the left of the key. The shot smacked off the glass and plunged into the net.

Said Brooks: "When that happened, I just threw up my hands. What else can you do?"

Forward Nina Uqdah led the Dukes with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

VCU and Drexel (11-2, 16-8) now sit atop the CAA standings. The Rams travel to Drexel a week from Thursday.

JAMES MADISON (10-3 CAA, 17-7)

Stokes 4, Hamner 5, Uqdah 10, Williams 9, Taylor 6, Crowell 0, Shepherd 4, Francisco 5, Connely 0. Totals: 17 7-14 43.

VCU (11-2, 21-4)

Hollingsworth 12, Lane 4, Waller 11, Bachvarova 16, Rorie 11, Solomon 0, Taylor 0, Hurt 7. Totals: 20 16-22 61.

Halftime: VCU 32-22. 3-point goals: JMU Hamner, Williams. VCU -- Rorie 3, Bachvarova 2. A -- 2,074.