University of Richmond Athletics
Women's Basketball Begins Conference Play With Saint Louis
01/02/2006 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 2, 2006
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. - The University of Richmond women's basketball team will open Atlantic 10 play and the new year with a first-ever contest with the Saint Louis Billikens on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 8:00 p.m. (E.S.T) at the Bauman-Eberhardt Center in Saint Louis, Mo. The Spiders, now 5-7, will look to conclude their Missouri trip with a victory over the Billikens, who are in their first year with the Atlantic 10.
The Spiders rounded out their non-conference slate and the year 2005 on Saturday night as they dropped a 55-49 decision to the Missouri State Lady Bears. Senior guard Araceli Gil led all scorers as she scored a season high 22 points off a career high six three pointers. Junior forward Kelly Roche followed with 13 points, while senior guard Saona Chapman, sophomore forward Mirna Mazic, and senior guard Ania Grabias each notched seven rebounds.
Richmond is currently 2-5 on the road, including wins at UC-Santa Barbara and Howard. The Spiders' last win on the road was before Christmas break at Howard where they captured a 78-70 victory over the Lady Bison. Last season, the Spiders notched an 11-3 road record (6-2 on the road in the Atlantic 10).
Richmond is led by junior forward Christina Campion (11.3 ppg), who is out with a back injury, Chapman (10.5 ppg), who reached double figures in seven games this season, and Mazic (9.2 ppg), who recorded two double-doubles this season.
Led by Tyler McIlwraith (15.6), Rachel Diener (10.0 ppg), and Hayley Leake (8.6 ppg), the Billikens are now 3-8 after their recent 75-61 victory over Utah State. In its first year in the Atlantic 10 Conference, Saint Louis is returning four starters from last year's squad that went 4-23 overall and tied for 13th in Conference USA with a 3-11 record. Currently, the Billikens are a split 3-3 at home and have not won a contest on the road.
Following their first Atlantic 10 game of the season, the Spiders will host back-to-back conference opponents at the Robins Center. Richmond will face La Salle on Jan. 6 at 7:00 p.m. and Duquesne on Jan. 8 at 2:00 p.m.
