University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Virginia
Spiders Stage Second-Half Comeback But Fall At Virginia
01/03/2011 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2011
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Richmond (9-5) whittled away an 18-point defcit to 60-58 with 5:41 left, but fell at Virginia (10-5) 75-62 Monday night at John Paul Jones Arena.
The Cavaliers pushed its lead to the largest of the game at 55-37 at the 11:42 mark but the Spiders would not go quietly. Spurred by the head-turning performance of veteran Brittani Shells, the Spiders staged a mighty comeback outscoring Virginia 21-5 in the following six minutes to pull within two.
After a made three pointer from Shells put the score within a 60-58 deficit, Virginia countered with a three pointer from Whitney Edwards to put the game back to a two-possession contest. From there, the Cavaliers took over and went on a 15-4 run to close the game.
Shells was her usual unstoppable self in the second stanza, scoring 16 last-frame points, including Richmond's first 10 of the second half. Shells finished with a game-high 22 points.
Abby Oliver followed with 15 tallies and four assists while Crystal Goring was just shy of her second double-double of the season with 12 points and nine boards.
The first half was a competitive contest from first whistle, as neither team trailed more than a basket for the first 10 minutes.
The loss snapped Richmond's five-game win streak and the Spiders' previous 4-0 mark against ACC schools the past two seasons.
Richmond recorded 15 assists led by Oliver's four. Richmond only went to the line nine times, compared to Virginia's 31 tries.
The Spiders open A-10 play with home-and-home rival GW Saturday at 2 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
