University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Chattanooga
Richmond Edged By Mocs In Double OT
12/29/2009 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 29, 2009
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -
Richmond (8-4) fell to Chattanooga 78-69 in double overtime in the opening game of the St. Peter's Classic Tuesday night at Yanitelli Center. Junior Brittani Shells led three Spiders in double figures with 21 points.
After overcoming a frosty 6-for-34 first-half shooting performance, the Spiders lit up the Mocs in the second half going on an 11-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 45-31. Chattanoooga would counter by going on an 18-5 run to close the gap 50-50 with 1:35 left in the last frame.
Chattanooga's Erin Helton banked in a lay-up to knot the game at 53 all with five seconds left in regulation. Richmond's would-be game-winning jumper from Crystal Goring missed left of the rim as time expired.
Goring swished two quick jumpers to give Richmond a four-point lead but Mocs guard Jenaya Wade-Fray responded with two jumpers of her own to tie the score again. Richmond and Chattanooga traded basket-for-basket to push the game into a second overtime.
Kara Powell nailed a three at the top of the key to give Richmond a 66-63 lead, but the Mocs countered with five unanswered points to go ahead 68-66. Richmond failed to connect on three straight three-point shots as the Mocs started to pull away. The Spiders fought to a 75-69 deficit after Goring netted her first career three-point shot.
Shells' 21 tied a season-high and Powell and Goring added 14 and 10 points respectively. The Spiders dished 14 assists and swatted a season-high seven shots. Senior Nikita Thomas recorded a career-best three blocks.
Richmond's last neutral overtime game was a 116-111 loss to East Carolina in the CAA Tournament March 5, 1999. Tonight's game marked the first double overtime game at a neutral site for the Spiders. Richmond moved to 1-3 all-time in double overtime games, with its last double overtime win coming at Saint Joseph's in 2007.
The Spiders play Morgan State tomorrow at 5 p.m. in the consolation game.
