University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
St. Bonaventure
Second-Half Surge Lifts Richmond Over Bonnies
02/05/2011 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 5, 2011
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. -
Junior Abby Oliver recorded the first double-double of her career and Brittani Shells scored a team-high 18 points as Richmond outlasted St. Bonaventure, 56-50 Saturday afternoon at the Robins Center.
Richmond improved to 15-8 overall and 6-3 in A-10 action.
The road wasn't easy for the Spiders who started the game 0-for-10 from the field and did enter the scoring column until two Crystal Goring free throws with 15:22 left in the first frame. Richmond didn't connect on its first field goal until a Goring layup five minutes later.
Still, Richmond only trailed 9-5 as St. Bonaventure struggled mightily from the field on its own only making 3-of-its first 11 shots.
After a Bonnies three pushed the lead to 15-10, Richmond scored six in a row to take its first lead, 16-15, with 6:05 in the first. St. Bonaventure would respond to the run with a Jessica Jenkins jumper to reclaim the lead. The Jenkins jumper would kick start a 8-0 run by St. Bonaventure to push its lead to 23-16 with 2:43 left to go in the first frame.
The scrappy Spiders hung around and closed the half with a 7-0 run of their own and veteran Shells hit one of the more important shots in the game with a three as time expired to swing momentum Richmond's way and knot the score at 23-all leading into the break.
Two quick treys coming out of the break gave Richmond life and its largest lead of the game at 29-23 with 18:49 left. St. Bonaventure scored five in a row to cut the deficit to 36-31 but it was the closest it could get the rest of the way.
The Bonnies made it interesting down the stretch as a CeCe Dixon long ball cut the deficit to 53-47 with 1:11 remaining but two Oliver free tosses would ice the game.
Oliver's double-double of 14 points, 12 boards was the first of her career and the 12 rebounds was a career-high. Oliver rounded out her impressive line with two steals and 5-of-7 from the line.
Shells netted a game-high 18 points, marking the 101th double-figure game of her career and 15th game-high performance of the season. Goring added another stellar game of eight points and 10 rebounds while Richmond's freshmen trio of Genevieve Okoro, Leah Johnson and Amber Nichols impressed. Okoro added six boards, Johnson four, while Nichols had five points, including two crafty drives in the lane.
The Spiders remain at home as they host No. 7 Xavier Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Robins Center.
