University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
at James Madison
Women's Basketball Falls To James Madison, 69-57
11/18/2005 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2005
HARRISONBURG, Va. - The University of Richmond women's basketball team began its string of four-straight, non-conference away games with a 69-57 loss to James Madison University on Friday night at the JMU Convocation Center in Harrisonburg, Va.. The Spiders, now 1-2, were led by senior guard Saona Chapman, who recorded 14 points for the Spiders, junior forward Christina Campion, who tallied 11 points, and junior guard DeUnna Hendrix, who earned 10 points for the Spiders after making her debut in the starting line-up following recovery from an injury.
The Spiders started the first half strong, scoring on their first two possessions and denying the Dukes on their first two possessions. After a basket by forward Christina Campion and two by center Mirna Mazic, the Spiders took a 6-0 lead early in the game. Unfortunately for the Spiders though, their lead was short-lived as JMU's Meredith Alexis took over the boards scoring the first six points for the Dukes and ending the half with 14 points.
The Dukes out-rebounded the Spiders 26-15 and outshot the Spiders 38-29 in the first half. The Spiders headed into the lockeroorm at halftime with a 40-29 deficit, with Campion leading the team with nine points, followed closely by guard DeUnna Hendrix with eight points.
The intensity heated up in the JMU Convocation Center in the second half as the Spiders came to the court with an energizing heart and hustle that was lacking in the first half. The Spiders were able to close the gap to just five points twice in the last eleven minutes; however, several critical turnovers and the lack of rebounding diminished the Spiders' hopes for a comeback. The Dukes ran away with the game in the last few foul-stricken minutes, making five crucial free throws in the final two minutes of the match.
While Chapman, Campion, and Hendrix were all in double-figures for the Spiders, Chapman also led the team in assists (eight). The Spiders' point guards, Araceli Gil and Chapman led the team in rebounding, with Gil pulling down seven and Chapman pulling five off the boards.
After experiencing the first three games with his new team, Richmond head coach Michael Shafer is concerned about his team's rebounding efforts. The Spiders ended Friday's game with only 35 rebounds, compared to the Dukes' 51. "We need to rebound the basketball," stated Shafer. "If we don't go to the glass, it could be a long year. We've got good height, just no athleticism under the boards."
The Spiders entered Friday's contest following a split 1-1 performance in the Pre-Season WNIT where they defeated the Hampton Pirates 77-47 at the Robins Center last Friday and then dropped to Boston College 62 -51 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Leading the Dukes in their first game of the season was Alexis with 19 points, Tamera Young with 13 points, and Shirley McCall and Lesley Dickinson with 12 points each. Alexis and Young took over the boards for the Dukes with each pulling down 12 rebounds.
With Friday's victory, the Dukes now lead the series 52-26-2 and improve to a four-game winning streak over the Spiders, having defeated the Spiders in 2000 and twice in 2001. The Spiders fell to the Dukes 75-70 in their last meeting on Feb. 15, 2001 after being defeated by the Dukes 89-86, just one month earlier at the Robins Center.
The Spiders will now pack up for a trip to California for match-ups with the University of California at Santa Barbara and Long Beach State. The Spiders will then travel across town for a visit to city-rival Virginia Commonwealth before hosting three consecutive games at the Robins Center.
