University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Liberty
Women's Basketball Douses Liberty Flames 82-68
12/14/2003 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 14, 2003
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - Senior Amber Goppert and sophomore Saona Chapman both recorded double-doubles in Richmond's 82-68 victory over the Liberty Flames in women's basketball action this afternoon at the Robins Center. With their fourth consecutive win over Liberty, the Spiders improve to 5-1 while the Flames fall to 4-5.
Chapman scored 20 points and dished out a career-high 12 assists, the first time since February 24, 2002 that a Richmond player has recorded 12 or more assists, and Goppert added 14 points and a season-high 10 rebounds. Junior Kate Flavin contributed 20 points while sophomore Araceli Gil added 14, hitting a trio of three-point baskets.
Liberty was led by Rima Margeviciute's 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Spiders held a slight advantage throughout the contest's opening five minutes of play, but the Flames took their first lead at the 15:05 mark off a three-point basket from Margaviciute. A jumper from Christina Campion put Richmond back on top (18-17) and the Spiders held an eight-point lead, their largest of the half, with just over three minutes remaining in the period.
With six seconds remaining in the opening half, Liberty's Margaviciute tied the game at 32-32 off an old-fashioned three point play.
Richmond opened the second half missing its first four shots as the Flames built a six-point advantage before Kelly Roche scored the Spiders' first points off a lay-up. The Spiders regained the lead, and would not relinquish it, with 13:25 left in the contest with a three-point basket from Chapman.
Liberty committed five turnovers in a three-minute span as the Spiders took a double-digit lead (10) with seven minutes left in the game.
Richmond connected on 16 free throws in the final two and half minutes of the game to earn the 82-68 win.
The Spiders return to action on Wednesday, December 17 when they face Arkansas State in the opening round of LSU's www.womenscollegehoops.com Classisc at 6:00 p.m. EST.
