University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Massachusetts
Richmond Women Top Massachusetts, 69-57
02/16/2003 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 16, 2003
AMHERST, Mass. - Senior Elise Ryder (Dayton, Ohio) connected on four three-point baskets in the second half to lead the University of Richmond to a 69-57 victory over University of Massachusetts in Atlantic 10 women's basketball action at the Mullins Center this afternoon. The Spiders, winning their second consecutive conference game, improve to 17-7, 8-5 in conference play, while Massachusetts fall to 12-11, 4-8.
Senior Cammy Desmond (Midlothian, Va.) led all scorers with a season-high 20 points, 13 in first half action, and five rebounds. Kate Flavin (Englewood, Colo.) scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Other Spiders in double-figures were Ebony Tanner (Garner, N.C.) with ten, Amber Goppert (Malone, N.Y.) with 11 and Ryder with 14.
The Spiders jumped to an early 12-4 lead off back-to-back steals from Flavin with just under 16 minutes remaining but that would be their largest lead of the half. The Minutewomen fought back and tied the game at 17-17 (10:38). The teams exchanged baskets for the following seven minutes before Massachusetts closed the half with a 10-5 scoring run that put the halftime score at 36-32.
The Minutewomen came out of the locker room and built a seven-point lead, their largest of the game. Richmond cut the deficit to one with 16:18 on the clock and tied the game two minutes later off a basket from Desmond. In a six-minute span, Ryder connected on four three-point baskets to give the Spiders a seven-point edge.
After a lay-up from Flavin (52-61) with four minutes remaining, neither team was able to put any points on the scoreboard until Monique Govan hit a lay-up for the Minutewomen with a minute and a half left in the game. The Spiders went 8-of-8 from the charity stripe in game's final 60 seconds to take the 69-57 win.
Massachusetts was led by Jennifer Butler's 15 points and 19 rebounds. Nekole Smith scored 16 points for the Minutewomen.
Massachusetts dominated the glass, grabbing 38 rebounds to the Spiders' 27.
The Spiders forced Massachusetts into 22 turnovers and scored 17 points as a result of the Minutewomen's mistakes.
Richmond returns to the Robins Center on Thursday, February 20 to play its final home game of the season. The Spiders will face off with the La Salle Explorers at 7:00 p.m. Richmond's three seniors will be honored in a brief pre-game ceremony.
