University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
William & Mary
William & Mary Edges Richmond in Women's Basketball, 88-85
11/29/2001 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 29, 2001
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond women's basketball team dropped its second straight game Thursday night, 88-85, to William & Mary. The Spiders led at the break, but the Tribe were too much on the boards in the second half as they outrebounded the Spiders by 10 in the second stanza.
The Spiders jumped out to an early 11-4 lead, but the Tribe twice cut the deficit to one midway through the first half. The Spiders would then go on a 9-0 run from the 6:24 mark to the 4:30 mark to build a 10-point advantage, 38-28. Sophomore guard Amber Goppert (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) spearheaded the run as she had four points during the span. As time ran down before the intermission, Goppert hit a fade-away jumper at the buzzer to give Richmond a 49-42 lead at the break. She led the Spiders with 16 points at the half, while senior point guard Michele Koclanes (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) added seven points and eight assists as she notched her 600th career assist in the process.
William & Mary came out running in the second half as it opened with an 8-0 run to take a one-point lead. Spider freshman forward Kate Flavin (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) would convert a traditional three-point play and then make another lay-up, both on offensive rebounds, to give Richmond a 60-57 lead with just under 15 minutes to play. Flavin finished with a career-high in both points (11) and rebounds (nine). Richmond's lead would grow to 68-61 with 11:50 to play, but the Tribe would then go on a 17-4 run over the next 6:40 to take a 78-72 lead with just over five minutes to play. The Spiders would answer with a 6-0 run of their own, capped by a Koclanes jumper in the lane, to tie the contest, 78-78. After a Tribe basket, Koclanes would counter with a three-pointer to give Richmond an 81-80 advantage with 1:19 to play. William & Mary would convert two free throws, a jumper, and another to free throws to lead 86-81. The teams would trade free throws as Flavin would then make a lay-up with two seconds left to make the score 88-85. After the Spiders forced a Tribe turnover, junior forward Cammy Desmond (Midlothian, Va./James River) got off a desperation three-point attempt, but the shot sailed wide.
Goppert led all scorers with 26 points and Koclanes recorded her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 assists. Desmond also finished in double-digits with 10. Richmond was outrebounded 56-44 for the game, due in large part to William & Mary senior Quintina Walker's 19 boards, to go along with 12 points. Junior Jen Sobota led the Tribe with 24 points, including 4-of-6 from three-point land. It is Richmond's second consecutive home loss to the Tribe in the series' 103rd meeting, with Richmond holding an 81-21-1 advantage.
The Spiders will look to bounce back Sunday afternoon as they travel to Maryland to face the Terrapins, ranked 25th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m.
