University of Richmond Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Saint Joseph's On Senior Day
02/25/2006 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 25, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond women's basketball team will make its final appearance of the season in the Robins Center on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. as it hosts the Saint Joseph's Hawks on Senior Day. Five special Spiders, Saona Chapman, Araceli Gil, Ania Grabias, Alison Mitchell, and Amber Petillon, will be recognized prior to Sunday's contest for their outstanding contributions to the program. These five seniors have each made a significant impact on the Richmond women's basketball program and have started five games together during their final year in a Richmond uniform, pulling together to win four of those five games, including the Spiders' first win over George Washington in 23 years.
The Spiders, now 12-15 overall and 7-8 in the A-10, have won four of their last five contests, three of which were over a team that, at the time, was ranked first or second in the A-10. The Spiders just broke their four-game winning streak as they suffered a 75-72 loss in double overtime on Friday night at the Reilly Center in Olean, N.Y. where Mirna Mazic recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Four other Spiders also reached double-digits, marking the first contest this season that five Spiders reached double-figures in one game. Petillon finished with 12 points and eight rebounds and Mitchell, Gil, and Sarah Williams each added 10 points, while Chapman dominated the boards with a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Hawks, currently 17-9 overall and 9-6 in the A-10, have won five of their last eight contests. Led by Ayahna Cornish (12.1 ppg), Hillary Klimowicz (9.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg), and Faith Schutte (9.1 ppg), Saint Joseph's is returning all five starters from last year's squad that went 7-23 overall, finishing tied for fifth in the A-10 east division with a 4-12 mark.
The Spiders and the Hawks first played in 1997 and are meeting for just the seventh time with the all-time series tied 3-3. The Spiders post a 2-1 favor at the Robins Center and won the last meeting between the two teams. Kate Flavin led the Spiders to a 66-41 victory over the Hawks last season on Jan. 30 at the Robins Center after she notched her eighth 20-plus point game of the season. While Flavin added 20 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, Christina Campion scored 14 points for the Spiders and Whitney Ffrench led the Hawks with 12 points. The Spiders dominated the boards, ending the game with 16 more rebounds than the Hawks.
Following Sunday's contest, the Spiders will prepare for the A-10 Championships that will take place March 3-6 in Philadelphia, Pa.
