University of Richmond Athletics
Women's Basketball Faces Auburn In WNIT Quarterfinals
03/25/2003 | Women's Basketball
March 25, 2003
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -- Having advanced farther into post-season play than any Spider women's basketball team in history, this year's Richmond squad is poised to continue a remarkable season on the hardwood.
Richmond (21-10) faces SEC-member Auburn (20-11) at 8 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, March 26 in Beard-Eaves Coliseum in Auburn, Ala. The game will be broadcast live on Sportsradio 910 and on the internet at www.RichmondSpiders.com.
The Spiders defeated Georgetown, 79-65, in the first round, capturing their first-ever post-season win, and the defeated Saint Joseph's, 56-53, on Sunday to advance to the quarterfinals.
The following are notes for Wednesday night's game:
THE CONTEST ... The University of Richmond faces Auburn University in the quarterfinals of the 2003 Women's National Invitation Tournament. The Spiders, making their second-ever WNIT appearance, advanced to post-season play for the first time in 12 years and recorded their first every post-season win against Georgetown in the opening round. In the 1989 WNIT, the Spiders lost three games for an 0-3 record in WNIT action. Richmond received NCAA bids in both 1990 and 1991 but lost both years in the first round.
SERIES HISTORY ... Tonight's contest is the third meeting between the two schools with the Tigers holding a 2-0 advantage. The series dates to January 8, 1992 when Auburn recorded a 77-54 win over the Spiders in Alabama. The teams met in the Robins Center the next season and the Tigers took the 59-56 win. The teams have never met in post-season action.
RICHMOND AGAINST THE 2003 WNIT FIELD ... Of the 32 teams competing in the 2003 WNIT, the Spiders have already faced two teams earlier this year. Richmond opened the season hosting Delaware and the Spiders prevailed 65-47. The Spiders faced conference foe Saint Joseph's once during the regular season and were defeated 65-50. If Richmond wins tonight, they will face the winner of the Creighton/Iowa game.
RICHMOND AGAINST THE SEC ... The Spiders post a 3-5 record against schools that are currently members of the SEC. In addition to Auburn, Richmond has played Alabama (0-1), Florida (1-0), South Carolina (2-0), Tennessee (0-1) and Vanderbilt (0-1)
SPIDERS IN NATIONAL STATISTICS ... In games through March 17, Kate Flavin ranks 15th in rebounding, grabbing 10.4 boards per outing and 30th with a field-goal percentage of .563. In team standings, the Spiders are 24th in field goal percentage (45.6) and are among the top 10 in the nation in assists, as their 18.0 per game rank 10th.
DISHING IT OUT ... The Spiders have set a new Richmond record for assists in a season. Richmond's 557 assists this year surpassed the previous high of 507 that was set by the 1990-91 squad, a NCAA Tournament team. The Spiders have recorded 15+ assists in eight of their last ten games and recorded a season-high 24 assists against VCU in December. Richmond has registered 20+ assists in eleven games. Twice this season a Richmond player has recorded ten assists in a single-game. Both Amber Goppert and Araceli Gil have dished out ten assists during a contest.
