RICHMOND, Va. – Sophomore forward Tianna Carter topped North Carolina Central University with a season-best 10 points as the Eagles' lone double-digit scorer in a 66-37 road loss at Virginia Commonwealth University, the defending Atlantic 10 Conference champion, on Wednesday night inside the Siegel Center.
 
Carter, a 6-1 transfer from UNLV, shot 2-for-7 from the field and 6-for-8 from the free-throw line, while adding six rebounds and two steals in just 17 minutes of action.
 
Fellow NCCU newcomer Diamond Thomas, a freshman guard out of Knightdale (N.C.) High School, registered seven points and a team-high three steals, while preseason All-MEAC honoree Necole Hope, a senior guard from Waldorf, Maryland, contributed five points and six boards.
 
NCCU (0-3) trailed by 10 points (30-20) at halftime, then pulled to within nine points of the home team at 32-23 when guard Paris McBride made a layup with 7:28 left in the third quarter.
 
VCU (1-1) closed the quarter on a 15-6 run to take a 47-29 advantage heading into the final stanza, and led by as much as 30 points in the closing 10 minutes.
 
The Rams were charged by guard Janika Griffith-Wallace with a game-highs of 16 points, five steals, four assists, and four blocked shots, along with five rebounds. Forward Chloe Bloom recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 caroms for the victors.
 
VCU shot 35% (22-63) from the floor and 33% (8-24) from 3-point range, while the Eagles made 18% (10-57) of their field goal attempts and 7% (1-15) from long distance.
 
Up next, NCCU continues its eight-game road stretch to begin the season at Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. (ET).