University of Richmond
James Madison
Wo Men's Basketball Falls Short At James Madison
12/04/2014 | Women's Basketball
HARRISONBURG, Va. – Despite four Spiders in double figures, the Richmond women's basketball team fell to the James Madison Dukes, 79-68, Wednesday night at the Convocation Center.
Redshirt-senior Genevieve Okoro, senor Liz Brown, junior Lauren Tolson and sophomore Olivia Healy all scored double-digit points for Richmond (3-3), but James Madison (6-1) used a 16-0 run in the second half to secure the victory.
The Dukes held the Spiders to 37.5 percent from the field, while shooting 39.7 percent and made 25-of-33 free throws.
Okoro led Richmond with 13 points and 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Both Brown and Tolson followed with 12 points apiece, while Brown grabbed six rebounds. Healy also added 10 points and three assists.
The Spiders got out to a strong start and led by as many as six nine minutes into the ball game. All eight of freshman Kylie Murphree's points came in those nine minutes, capped off by the freshman's second three of the day to give Richmond the 20-14 lead at the 10:56 mark.
An 8-2 run got JMU back into the contest and tied the game at 22 with 9:10 left in the first. From then on, the two teams traded leads and the Dukes went into the half with the 38-35 advantage.
At the half, Brown led the Spiders with nine points and five rebounds and Murphree followed with her eight points and four boards. Richmond shot 42.9 percent from the floor, while holding the Dukes to 38.2 percent.
Tolson nailed a three on the first possession of the second half to tie the score at 38, but James Madison used a 16-0 run to go into the first media up 54-38. The Spiders didn't give up. Richmond used a 13-4 run to cut the JMU lead to just seven with 12:01 to go.
The Spiders got as close as six, which came twice, but James Madison held on for the 79-68 win.
The Spiders will return home to host the Hampton Pirates Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Robins Center.
