University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Syracuse
Women's Basketball Stopped By Syracuse
03/22/2010 | Women's Basketball
March 22, 2010
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -
Richmond fell to Syracuse 69-55 in the second round of the WNIT Monday evening at the Manley Field House in Syracuse, N.Y.
Richmond led the Orange at the break, 29-23, after a dominant first-half outing. The Spiders led by as many as eight points twice, and used the long range shot for five of their first nine shots.
Richmond's active hands broke up many strong passes to the Orange post, resulting in 15 first-half turnovers. Richmond capitalized on the mistakes by netting 13 points of the miscues.
Big East All Conference first team selection Nicole Michael was shut down in the first frame only scoring three points, due largely in part to Danielle Bell's stifling defense. Michael found her rhythm in the second half and hit key shots down the stretch to jumpstart the Syracuse run.
After seeing its halftime advantage vanish, the Spiders retook the lead at 36-33 after Bell drained a three in the corner at the 14:33 mark.
The Orange found its groove after the Bell three and went on an 11-3 run jumpstarted by Michael's back-to-back jumpers to take a 44:39 lead. Richmond responded the next possession with a Goring lay-up, but the Orange answered with another jumper.
Syracuse boosted its lead to 54-44 due to costly Spider turnovers and open lay-ups in the lane. Rachael Bilney sliced the lead to 56-51 after a three-pointer, but Michael answered Bilney's long-ranger with one of her own to put the lead back at 58-51.
The Spiders would get no closer.
Bilney led Spider scoring with 11 points, off 4-of-8 shooting including a team-high 3-of-6 from behind the arc. Brittani Shells added 10 while Crystal Goring chipped in with seven points and seven boards.
Senior Danielle Bell's ended her career with eight points and a career-high five assists. Bell scored 801 points for the Spiders and was seventh all-time in made three-pointers (133).
Senior Nikita Thomas scored four points and ended her career with 531 rebounds.
Richmond ended its run with its second-consecutive postseason berth and 20-win season.
