ST. LOUIS (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined more by missed shots than made ones, the VCU Rams secured a rare road victory Wednesday night, grinding out a 50-39 win over the Saint Louis Billikens in an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball game at Chaifetz Arena.

The Rams, who entered the game with a 4-11 record and had lost four of their last five, used a stifling defensive performance to hold the Billikens to historically poor shooting. Saint Louis connected on just 13 of 62 field goal attempts, a frigid 21 percent, and was 3 of 25 from three-point range. Despite a perfect 10-for-10 showing at the free-throw line, the Billikens managed only 39 points, their second-lowest output of the season.

VCU’s offense was scarcely more efficient, shooting 35.4 percent from the field and making only 3 of 17 from beyond the arc. The difference came from defensive pressure and capitalizing on mistakes. The Rams forced 19 Saint Louis turnovers, converting them into 12 steals, and outrebounded the Billikens 53-45, including a 12-8 edge on the offensive glass.

The most important part of the game was VCU’s immediate establishment of control through defense in the first quarter, a tone that never shifted. The Rams opened the game on a 9-2 run, highlighted by a Laia Crespin Pastor three-pointer, and held Saint Louis to just eight points in the opening period. The Billikens missed 13 of their first 15 shots and committed five early turnovers, digging a hole from which they never recovered. VCU’s lead never dipped below five points after the initial burst, and the Billikens’ offensive woes prevented any sustained rally, as they failed to score more than 13 points in any quarter.

Patricia Augustin led VCU with 11 points off the bench, while Katarina Knezevic added 10 points, three assists and a block. Lucy Ghaifan contributed eight points and two assists. For Saint Louis, Alyssa Koerkenmeier and Alexia Nelson each scored 11 points, with Koerkenmeier adding a block. Nelson was perfect on her four free throws, part of the team’s flawless night at the line.

The game’s statistical oddity was underscored by the offensive ratings. VCU scored 50 points on 69 possessions for an offensive rating of 72.6, while Saint Louis’s 39 points on 78 possessions resulted in a rating of 50.2, illustrating a game dominated by defensive stops and offensive frustration.

With the victory, VCU improved to 5-11 overall. Saint Louis fell to 8-9. The result defied the pregame analytics, as Interstat’s ELO system had projected Saint Louis with a 75.1 percent probability to win.

VCU looks to build momentum when it hosts Duquesne on Sunday. Saint Louis travels to face Loyola Chicago, also on Sunday.