University of Richmond Athletics
Women's Basketball Hosts Rhode Island On Friday
02/08/2006 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - After playing five of its last seven games on the road, the University of Richmond women's basketball team will now return to its home territory for the next three Atlantic 10 contests, Rhode Island, Temple, and Charlotte. The Spiders, 3-7 in the A-10, will start off their home-game run by hosting the University of Rhode Island Rams, also 3-7 in A-10 play, this Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the Robins Center.
SPIDER SCOOP: The Spiders are now 8-14 overall and 3-7 in the A-10 after victories over Hampton, UC-Santa Barbara, Harvard, Howard, Wake Forest, and A-10 opponents Saint Louis, Duquesne, and Fordham, as well as losses to Boston College, James Madison, Long Beach, VCU, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Missouri State, and A-10 opponents La Salle, Xavier, Dayton, Massachusetts, Charlotte, George Washington, and Temple. Richmond is led by sophomore sensation Mirna Mazic (10.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg), who recorded four double-doubles and one 30-point game this season, senior guard Araceli Gil (9.0 ppg), who has recorded nine double-digit performances this year, Saona Chapman (8.9 ppg), who reached double figures in ten games this season, and junior forward Kelly Roche (7.4 ppg). The Spiders are coming off their third-straight 20-plus winning season (23-7) in which they advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
LAST SPIDER GAME: The Spiders are fresh off a 65-46 loss at No. 20 Temple where Gil paced the Spiders with 12 points, and freshman Sarah Williams added 10 points (her fourth double-digit performance in the last five games). Amber Petillon and Ania Grabias each added seven points, and Petillon grabbed a team-high nine rebounds as the Spiders dropped to the Owls.
RAMS REPORT: The Rams are now 6-15 overall and 3-7 in the conference after wins over Brown, Maine, Holy Cross, and A-10 opponents Xavier, Massachusetts, and Fordham, as well as losses to Hartford, Harvard, Villanova, Marquette, Providence, Florida, Liberty, Illinois, and A-10 opponents La Salle, George Washington, Duquesne, Dayton, Saint Joseph's, and UMass. Led by Safi Mojidi (15.2 ppg) and Tanya Rhodes (13.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Rhode Island is returning two starters from last year's squad that went 8-20 overall, tying for second place in the A-10 east division with a 6-10 league mark.
SERIES: This is the eighth meeting between the Spiders and the Rams with the Spiders leading the all-time series 5-2. Richmond has won the last four contests between the two teams, and the Rams have never topped the Spiders by more than six points.
LAST MEETING: The Spiders knocked the Rams out of the A-10 tournament with their 58-46 victory (the second win over the Rams last season) on March 5, 2005. Gil knocked in 20 points for the Spiders after connecting on four three-point field goals and 6-6 from the free throw line, while Christina Campion recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Spiders to the A-10 semi-finals.
NEXT CONTEST: Following Friday's contest, the Spiders will turn around and host the Temple Owls on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at the Robins Center.
