University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
La Salle
Big Second Half Carries Women's Basketball Past La Salle, 95-74
01/25/2002 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 25, 2002
PHILADELPHIA - The University of Richmond women's basketball team used a 57-point second half to cruise past the La Salle Explorers, 95-74, Friday night in Philadelphia. The Spiders got big games from senior point guard Michele Koclanes (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial), sophomore guard Amber Goppert (Malone, N.Y./Franklin Academy) and junior center Ebony Tanner (Garner, N.C./Ravenscroft) on the way to their second-straight Atlantic 10 victory.
The Spiders and Explorers played an even first half as there were nine lead changes in the first 20 minutes and the largest lead for either team was six by La Salle at the 5:27 mark. Richmond held La Salle to only one field goal over the final 6:42 as the Spiders used a 13-5 run to close out the half and take a 38-36 lead into the locker room. Goppert led the team with 13 points and Tanner added eight points and seven rounds before the intermission.
The trio of Spiders continued with a strong second half as Goppert sliced her way to the basket and Koclanes continued to feed Tanner on the inside as the team shot over 62% in the second stanza. Richmond used a 28-18 run over the first eight minutes to take a 66-54 lead and put the game away, as the Explorers would not draw any closer the rest of the way.
Koclanes, the NCAA's active career assists leader, tied a career-high with 13 assists as she also scored 11 points to record her third straight double-double and the 19th of her career. Tanner continued to be a force on the inside as she also recorded a double-double with 20 points (10-of-14) and 13 rebounds, while also blocking a career-high six Explorer shots. The six rejections is tied for the fifth most in a game by a Spider. Goppert tied for a game-high 25 points as she was 9-of-16 from the field. Junior forward Krystn Gull (Asheville, N.C./Erwin) rounded out the Spiders scoring in double-digits as she contributed 12 points, going 4-of-8 on three-pointers. Forward Kat Foley led La Salle with 25 points.
Richmond improves to 9-11 with the win, 3-4 in the Atlantic 10, while La Salle drops to 4-14, 0-7. Richmond returns to action Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. as the Spiders travel to Washington D.C. to face George Washington (12-6, 7-0).
