University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
at Howard
Women's Basketball Uses Second Half Run To Top Howard, 78-70
12/21/2005 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 21, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The University of Richmond women's basketball team topped the Howard Lady Bison, 78-70 at Burr Gymnasium on Wednesday night after coming back from a 15-point deficit. Junior forward Kelly Roche, senior forward Alison Mitchell, and junior guard DeUnna Hendrix each earned double figures as they led the Spiders to an eight-point advantage over the Lady Bison.
Howard came out and hit their first nine points from the three point line and five of their first six baskets were treys as they took a 19-9 lead in the first seven minutes. Although trailing by 15 points with just over five minutes left in the first half, the Spiders cut the deficit to 10 points before the half ended. The Lady Bison ended the half with eight three pointers and forced the Spiders into 16 turnovers with their high pressure defense that left the Spiders in "panic mode."
"I had to question their effort at halftime," stated Richmond head coach Michael Shafer. " The last three games, they haven't come out with the group effort they need to win. I told them that they could either come out together with a better effort or they could watch the lead go up and to their credit, they changed it."
And a changed game it was; the Spiders came out and outscored the Lady Bison 11-4 in the first three minutes of the second half. The Spiders improved not only their defense in the second half, limiting the Lady Bison to only two three-pointers, but they also came out with a lot more composure and hustle.
"With this type of situation, the game could have gone either way," commented Shafer. "It's all about making hustle plays and little effort plays, and in the second half, we made them all." Spider bodies were diving on the floor to get the ball, as well as out-rebounding the Lady Bison 26-12 in the second half.
Senior guard Araceli Gil hit five free throws, while Hendrix nailed two in the final minute to secure the Spiders' eight-point lead.
Three Spiders were in double digits, with Roche leading all scorers with 19 points. Mitchell followed with 14 points and Hendrix tallied 12 points. Senior guard Saona Chapman added nine assists, while Roche and senior guard Ania Grabias paced the Spiders in rebounding as they each grabbed seven.
The Lady Bison also had three players in double figures, including Shannon Carlisle with 16 points, Lonice Kenley with 14 points, and Brittany James with 13 points.
The Spiders will return to action after the holidays as they host the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Wed., Dec. 28 at 7:00 p.m.
