University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Massachusetts
Women's Basketball Falls to Massachusetts, 85-73
03/02/2002 | Women's Basketball
March 2, 2002
PHILADELPHIA - The University of Richmond women's basketball team could not overcome a sluggish first half as the Spiders were eliminated in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament Saturday night by Massachusetts, 85-73. Four Spiders scored in double-figures as junior center Ebony Tanner (Garner, N.C./Ravenscroft) led the way with 21 points.
The Spiders and Minutewomen played an even first eight minutes of the first half as Richmond held an 11-10 advantage at the 13:40 mark. The Spiders would however struggle the rest of the half as they would only make another three field goals the rest of the way. UMass freshman guard Katie Nelson hit back-to-back three-pointers with six minutes before the intermission to give her team a 26-16 lead. Richmond would continue to trail by double-digits as they entered the locker room down 37-20. Richmond shot 30.4% from the floor and tied their lowest first half output of the season, which also came in a game versus UMass.
Over eight minutes into the second half, Richmond still found itself trailing by 17 points, 54-37. Freshman forward Kate Flavin (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) connected on her first three-pointer of the season with 8:10 remaining to pull the Spiders within 13, 62-49. Richmond would further cut the deficit to nine, 67-56, on a three-point play from Tanner with 5:23 to play. However, Massachusetts would not let Richmond get any closer as the Minutewomen made their free throws (19-of-26 in the second half) on their way to the 85-73 victory and their highest offensive output of the season.
In addition to her game-high 21 points, Tanner also pulled down six rebounds for the Spiders. Flavin had a team-high 10 rebounds, while also scoring 10 points and recording seven steals, which ties an Atlantic 10 Tournament record. It was the freshman's fifth double-double of the season. Sophomore guard Amber Goppert (Malone,N.Y./Franklin Academy) and senior point guard Michele Koclanes (Pelham, N.Y./Pelham Memorial) also finished in double-figures, scoring 16 and 14 respectively, as the Spiders only got five points from their bench. Massachusetts junior forward Amber Sneed had 16 rebounds to go along with 14 points as the Minutewomen pounded Richmond on the glass, holding a 54-30 advantage. The Spiders, ranked 25th in the NCAA with a 37.8% shooting percentage from three-point range, finished the game 5-of-25 from beyond the arc.
With the loss, Richmond ends the season 14-16 while Massachusetts improves to 12-17 and advances to tomorrow's semifinal.
