University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
TEMPLE
Women's Basketball Shuts Down No. 19 Temple, 56-54
02/12/2006 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 12, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -
Senior Araceli Gil drained two free throws with 0.4 seconds remaining as the University of Richmond women's basketball team came back from an 11-point deficit to take down No. 19 Temple, 56-54 Sunday afternoon at the Robins Center.
Sophomore Mirna Mazic led all scorers with 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Spiders avenged their loss to the Owls last Friday night. The victory was Richmond's first over a nationally-ranked opponent since their win at No. 18 Maryland on Nov. 28, 1990. The Spiders improved to 10-14 overall and 5-7 in Atlantic 10 action.
Senior Amber Petillon added 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds and senior Saona Chapman scored 11 points.
Richmond head coach Michael Shafer was ecstatic about his team's performance. "In the first game (against Temple last Friday), they were able to do whatever they wanted and we were just reacting," stated Shafer. "Today, we were able to match them and take away what they wanted to do and they had to resort to their third and fourth options."
The Spiders jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two minutes of play off a drive and free throw by Ania Grabias. With a combo of steals and defensive rebounds, the Spiders held the Owls scoreless for almost the first four minutes of the game. After the Owls hit a trey to take a 5-3 advantage, Richmond's Chapman hit a jumper to bring the game to a tie.
For the next three minutes, fans enjoyed a back-and-forth battle between the two teams with a jumper from Chapman and aggressive drives by Mazic keeping the Spiders alive. The Owls then went on a 10-0 run before Richmond's Petillon would break the Spiders' seven-minute dry spell. Chapman followed Petillon's lead and, after a deceptive reverse lay-up, Chapman brought Spiders' deficit down to six points. Following an Owls' basket, Chapman drove again through an open lane to put two more points on the board, keeping the game within a six-point reach.
The Owls were able to put one more basket in to take a 23-15 advantage, where the score remained until the halftime buzzer.
After the Owls took the first basket of the second half, the Spiders went on a 6-2 run to bring the game to 28-21; however, the Owls then answered with a three-pointer to secure a 10-point lead. Following an elbow jumper from Chapman and a lay-up by Mazic, the Spiders once again decreased the Owls' lead to just six points. The Owls then knocked in a three that sparked both teams into two minutes full of fast-paced action in which Richmond's Petillon hit two shots and Sarah Williams nailed a three-pointer.
Despite the Spiders' efforts and 11 consecutive points by Mazic, the Owls only let the Spiders come within a six-point reach until two minutes later, when Williams and Petillon drove for two more Spider baskets, bringing the game to a two-point gap with just under four minutes left. The Owls then drove for two points, but Richmond's Williams sank another three to bring the game to a one-point difference. Mazic followed with excellent defense and blocked the Owls' next attempt for a lay-up, and Chapman grabbed a decisive rebound and drove for a foul, and after sinking a free throw, the game was tied with just 36 seconds left.
Senior Araceli Gil, who had not put any points on the board as of yet, put herself at the foul line with just 0.4 seconds left of play and sank both free throws to give the Spiders a 56-54 victory over the nationally-ranked Owls.
While Petillon, Chapman, and Mazic all reached double-figures for the Spiders, Williams ended the contest with eight points.
Although the Owls had four players in double-digits, it was not enough to overcome the determined Spiders and the Owls dropped to 18-6 overall and 9-3 in the conference with Sunday's loss. Kamesha Hairston and Khadija Bowens led the Owls with 12 points each, while Candice Dupree and Fatima Maddox followed with 11 points each, and Lady Comfort dominated the boards with 11 rebounds.
"It's extremely rewarding," continued Shafer. "The kids deserve it and they earned it. With everything they've been through - the injuries and the ups and downs - they don't quit, and consequently, a game like this was very much deserved."
The Spiders will host the Charlotte 49ers in their second battle of the season on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Robins Center
