WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
By Chris Kowalczyk
12-8-09

PLENTY OF ‘O’ FROM ‘D’
Despite the losses of its leading scorers from last season, Quanitra Hollingsworth and Radoslava Bachvarova, VCU has seen its points-per-game average increase this year, from 66.7 to 71.2.

At the center of the Rams’ offensive output is senior D’Andra Moss (left). Through five games, Moss is averaging 19.8 points per game and shooting .535. Entering this season, the 6-0 forward was a career 7.3 point scorer. Last year, Moss was VCU’s fourth-leading scorer at 9.9 points per game.  

“She’s a real mismatch problem from her ability to score, her physical presence and just her leadership ability,” said VCU Head Coach Beth Cunningham. “There are just so many different things she brings to the team. She’s proven to be a handful for teams up to this point, and I think she’s going to continue to be. “

Moss has already posted games of 33 and 27 points this season. She was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Co-Player of the Week on Nov. 23. Her play this year has been especially impressive, considering she missed the final 11 games of last season with a torn ACL. Moss has torn the ACL’s in both of her knees.

“It was really disappointing when we lost her last year because there’s so much that she brings to the team,” Cunningham said. “I feel like she can be one of the best [players] in the conference this year.”

AILING WALLER
Cunningham says she expects senior guard Kita Waller to play in the Rams’ next game on Saturday, Dec. 12 against Radford at the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Waller, who missed the first three games of the season following arthroscopic left knee surgery, landed hard on the leg in the second half of the Richmond game while fighting for a rebound. Waller was seen wincing in pain, but stayed in the game.

The Gainesville, Ga. native will likely sit out of practice until Thursday, but Cunningham doesn’t foresee any long-term issues with the knee.

“It takes a lot to keep Kita off the floor,” Cunningham said. “The biggest thing is, we have a little more time this week before we play, so just give her as much rest as possible.”

Waller is averaging 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in two games this season.

HOME SWEET HOME
Sunday’s loss to Richmond snapped VCU’s 19-game home win streak. The Rams’ last loss at the Verizon Wireless Arena at the Stuart C. Siegel Center was Feb. 21, 2008 against Old Dominion. VCU was a perfect 17-0 at home last season.

ROTATING ROTATION
A myriad of injuries, illnesses and youth have contributed to some uneven playing rotations through VCU’s first five games, especially from the bench.

The Rams have used the same starting lineup of Moss, Jennifer Lane, Ebony Patterson, La’Tavia Rorie and Stephanie Solomon in all five games. Off the bench, Waller and Courtney Hurt (right) have averaged better than 27 minutes apiece. After that, nearly everything is subject to change. Sophomores Jessica Taylor, Chelsea Snyder and Rhonda Watts, as well as freshmen Robyn Hobson, Bree’Ana Perry and Daphne Adebayo have all been jostling for minutes.

“I really think we need to start to get consistent minutes from the guard position and from the post position from somebody off the bench because to be honest, I’d really like…to find more depth,” Cunningham said. “We have some young kids that are still learning. I’m confident they have it in them, but we’ve got to consistently start to get that in practice, so that we have confidence to go to them in the games.”

P.T. FOR PERRY
One player who could fill a role in the post for the Rams is Perry. A 6-4, big-bodied forward, Perry arrived at VCU with plenty of promise, but is still adjusting to the college game and lifestyle.

Prior to Sunday’s loss to Richmond, Perry had appeared in one game and played one minute. However, Cunningham went to Perry midway through the first half against the Spiders. She played four minutes and grabbed a rebound.

Perry’s size and athleticism make her an interesting prospect. She’s the niece of former NFL players William “The Refrigerator” Perry and Michael Dean Perry.

“I really feel like Bree could be a difference-maker for us,” Cunningham said. “She’s still young. She’s still learning. Obviously, everything right now is a new experience for her. The thing I’ve been on with her is just consistent work ethic every day in practice. I felt like the two days prior to the Richmond game…I thought she had two of her best days of practice. And, if she’s working like that in practice, she’s going to get rewarded in the game.”

RAMS TO TRY LUCK IN LAS VEGAS
VCU will hope Lady Luck is on its side Dec. 19-21 when it participates in the Duel in the Desert at UNLV in Las Vegas. It’s a three-day affair that includes big names Kansas State, Arkansas, Florida State, DePaul and Hawaii. VCU will open with host UNLV on Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. EST.

“With this senior class, this is something we really wanted to do,” Cunningham said. “I think it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. First of all, just having an opportunity to spend five or six days out there. At the same time it’s going to be a great opportunity to play some of the marquee programs in the country.”

The tournament format will be especially grueling, with a game each day, but it’s one Cunningham hopes will pay dividends down the road.

“It’s going to a great test for us, not only with the quality of teams we get to play, but really, it’s like a conference tournament in that you have to play three days in a row,” Cunningham said. “I thought that experience would be good for our kids.”

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