University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
St. Bonaventure
Richmond Edges St. Bonaventure, 71-64
01/20/2009 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2009
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -
Behind sophomore Brittani Shells' game-high 26 points, Richmond (15-4, 3-1) edged St. Bonaventure (12-3, 2-1) 71-64 Tuesday evening in the Robins Center. Richmond forced 18 turnovers.
Richmond started the game on a 10-0 run thanks to four lay-ups by four different Spiders. The Spiders forced five Bona turnovers in the first four minutes of the game. St. Bonaventure cut the deficit to 17-14 on a jumper by Cara Gustafson. The Spiders returned with a quick three-pointer by junior Danielle Bell. Richmond led by as many as 11 at the 3:11 mark after a made three-pointer by freshman Rachael Bilney pushed the score to 29-18. The Spiders closed the half with a solid 33-25 advantage.
"We showed a lot of maturity tonight," said head coach Michael Shafer. "I was pleased with our team. We had five people playing together as a unit."
Richmond started the second half much like the first, going a 7-0 run. St. Bonaventure again battled back and cut the deficit to 40-39 at the 13:38 mark thanks to a jumper by Dana Mitchell. Richmond led by as many as eight in the following five minutes before St. Bonaventure took the lead 57-58 after a 10-2 run bolostered by Mitchell's back-to-back jumpers.
Shells quickly put the Spiders back on top 59-58 with a lay-up at the 5:26 mark. Shells then drilled a three-pointer at the 4:44 mark to give Richmond the lead for good.
"The game was very intense," said Shells. "When they went up by a point, I knew I had to step up my game. This was a great win."
Shells ended her night with a game-high 26 points. Shells also dished out five assists, one shy of her career-high. Bell added 12 points, going 4-for-8 from the field.
Dana Mitchell led the Bonnies with 18 points. St. Bonaventure swished a perfect 20-for-20 from the charity stripe.
Richmond remains at home as Massachusetts comes to the Robins Center Saturday. Tip-off is slated for noon.
