Monnaz Finney-Smith took her turn as leading scorer for VCU (1-1, 10-5), hitting four consecutive three-pointers, ending the night with 14 points. Adaeze Alaeze had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds, while Isis Thorpe and Keira Robinson added ten apiece.
Finney-Smith's performance was welcomed by O'Boyle.
"Shooters shoot," O'Boyle noted. "We don't really hesitate with her when she has an open three. We want her to keep working on her game so she can get to the rim, but she did a good job defensively for us, too."
VCU's defense was key after intermission, as their offense, who rolled out to a 40-17 lead at the break, disappeared, scoring only three points in the first seven minutes. However, the visiting Rams couldn't take advantage, stymied by VCU's aggressive play both in the paint and on the perimeter. In those same seven minutes, Rhode Island managed just 11 points.
The rest of the night was a simple matter of holding Rhode Island at bay. Rhode Island had a chance with 3:30 to play with a chance to finally cut the margin to single digits to mount a final push, but Alaeze's offensive rebound and subsequent foul by Rhode Island ended any last hopes.
O'Boyle credited Rhode Island's second half work, and was grateful for her team's defensive effort.
"Like any good team, you knew Rhode Island was going to come back and make some of those shots," O'Boyle explained. "They started the second half hot, but I thought we did a good job of handling that run, and then being able to go back at them again, trying to keep the tempo up for the full forty minutes."
Daynia La-Force, also in her first season as a head coach in the Atlantic 10, summed up the Rhode Island (1-1, 9-5) performance succinctly.
"I don't think we were ready to play tonight," La-Force said. "A lot of the things we talked about VCU doing very well like scoring off turnovers and on transition, and we had to do a better job of stopping them in those things, and we didn't."
La-Force is looking for consistency from a team that won just eight games overall a year ago before she arrived on campus, a team that also starts two freshmen.
"We're a one half team, and I'm trying to get this program to know the importance of playing basketball for two halves," La-Force added.
VCU next plays at Saint Louis on Monday night, while Rhode Island travels to Davidson for a 2pm Sunday matinee.
OTHER THURSDAY FINALS (Game Summaries at links below):
Fordham 70, La Salle 59 (Rams improve to 2-0 in league play with first conference road win)
Duquesne 88, George Mason 54 (Dukes even league mark at 1-1, Patriots fall to 1-1)
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