University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Xavier
Spiders' Second Half Rally Falls Short At No. 7 Xavier
02/08/2010 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 7, 2010
CINCINNATI, Ohio -
Richmond rallied from a poor first-half shooting performance and led the Musketeers with 3:45 remaining but it wasn't enough as the Spiders (15-8, 4-4) fell to No. 7 Xavier (18-3, 8-0) Sunday afternoon at the Cintas Center.
The Spiders struggled mightily from the field to open the game, missing their first 17 shots. Despite the frostiness from the floor, Richmond only trailed by 11 points. Richmond got its first basket off an Abby Oliver lay-up in the lane at the 11:06 mark.
Richmond fought back to a four-point deficit, 17-13 after two made Nikita Thomas free-throws capped an 11-6 run.
Richmond pulled to within one after a feed from Katie Holzer found a cutting Oliver in the lane to slash the Musketeer deficit to 22-21 with 2:07 remaining. Xavier led 25-21 at the break, but was outscored by the Spiders 21-11 in the last nine minutes of the first half.
Richmond's bench accounted for 17 of the first 21 points, with Oliver and Rachael Bilney leading the pack at six points apiece. The Spiders caused 14 first-half Musketeer turnovers and recorded eight steals.
Xavier came out attacking in the first minutes of the last frame, pushing its lead to 36-26 at the 16:31 mark . Richmond countered with an 8-0 run jumpstarted by the hot hand of Oliver to cut the Musketeer advantage to 36-34 with 14 minutes remaining.
After two quick baskets by Xavier, Brittani Shells scored quick five points off a three-pointer and a fade away jumper to again cut the lead to two at 41-39. The Spiders rode Oliver's spark to its first tie of the game at 47-47 after a three in the corner from the Roanoke native.
Oliver gave Richmond its first lead, 48-47 after a free throw with 6:47 left. The Spiders had outscored the Musketeers 22-11 since trailing 36-26 at the 16:31 mark.
Xavier answered with a Special Jennings three to reclaim the lead at 50-48 with 5:56 remaining. The next three minutes saw the score change hands four times and neither team led by more than a basket.
After a 53-53 tie at the 3:33 mark, Xavier's Dee Dee Jernigan drew a foul in the lane and gave the Musketeers the lead for good at 54-53. After a missed jumper by Bilney, Xavier built its lead with a jumper by Amber Harris to go ahead 56-53 with 3:03 remaining.
The Spiders would get no closer as they were held without a field goal the last 4:15 of the game.
Oliver ended her night a career-best 19 points, off 7-for-16 shooting. Shells followed with 10 points and four assists. The Spiders recorded 16 assists, led by Holzer's career seven dishes. Richmond also posted 13 steals.
Richmond travels to Washington, D.C. Wednesday to complete the home-and-home series with George Washington. Tip is slated for 7:00 p.m.
