RICHMOND, Va. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities and forced turnovers, the VCU Rams narrowly escaped the Siegel Center with a 69-66 victory over the Howard Lady Bison in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Monday night.

The contest was a tale of contrasting offensive approaches and a dramatic final minute, ultimately decided by a clutch and-one play from VCU’s Mary-Anna Asare. The game was played before an intimate crowd of 612 fans.

Howard, which entered the game with a perfect 4-0 record, saw its unbeaten run end despite a dominant performance in the paint and a significant advantage in forcing mistakes. The Lady Bison capitalized on 19 VCU turnovers, converting them into 18 points, while the Rams managed just 13 points off of Howard’s 11 giveaways.

The game’s opening quarter set an early tone, with VCU seizing a 22-15 lead behind efficient early shooting. Howard’s offense stalled in the second period, managing only 10 points as the Rams built a 34-25 halftime advantage.

The second half, however, belonged to Howard’s Zennia Thomas. The Lady Bison erupted for 24 points in the third quarter, spearheaded by Thomas’s relentless attack. Howard clawed back into the game, erasing the deficit and setting up a tense fourth-quarter battle where neither team led by more than a single possession for long stretches.

The final minute was a frantic sequence of free throws and critical defensive stops. With the score tied, Mary-Anna Asare drove to the basket for a layup while being fouled with just four seconds remaining on the clock. She calmly sank the ensuing free throw to put VCU ahead by three. Howard’s last-second attempt to force overtime was off the mark, sealing the win for the Rams.

Asare, a guard from Pickering, Canada, led all scorers with 25 points, adding five rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes of action. She was complemented by Katarina Knezevic of Belgrade, Serbia, who poured in 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Rams. Lucy Ghaifan of Grand Island, Nebraska, controlled the glass for VCU, pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds.

For Howard, the loss came despite a heroic effort from Zennia Thomas. The junior from Cleveland, Ohio, was a force, scoring 25 points and collecting eight rebounds. Ariella Henigan provided a crucial scoring spark off the bench with 12 points. Howard’s defense was active all night, registering 12 steals and four blocks, with Rayne Durant contributing two of those blocks to go with eight points and five rebounds.

Statistically, the game was a paradox. Howard won several key categories, including assists (12-7), steals (12-7), and points off turnovers (18-13). They also attempted 37 free throws compared to VCU’s 13, but their inability to convert from the charity stripe proved costly, as they made only 25. From the field, both teams struggled, with Howard shooting 32.8 percent and VCU connecting on 39.7 percent of its attempts. The Rams found a critical edge from beyond the arc, making 10 three-pointers to Howard’s three.

The victory improves VCU’s record to 3-1 on the young season, while Howard falls to 4-1. The Rams will now prepare for a trip to Hawaii for the North Shore Showdown, where they will face Texas A&M, Colorado, and Texas-Arlington. Howard looks to rebound quickly, traveling to face Monmouth on Thursday.