University of Richmond
Duquesne
Spider Rally Falls Short At Duquesne In WNIT Second Round
03/25/2015 | Women's Basketball
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The University of Richmond Spiders women's basketball team rallied from a 15-point deficit with a little over 11 minutes remaining to take the lead in the final seconds, but the Duquesne Dukes were able to hold on for victory, 48-47, in the second round of the WNIT on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Richmond game-winning layup in the final second was nullified by an offensive foul call, effectively ending the game with seven-tenths of a second remaining. The Spiders forced 24 Dukes turnovers in a brilliant defensive effort, two shy of the Dukes' season high. The 16 made field goals by the Dukes were a season-low for a Spider opponent and the 48 points given up were four away from the season low total allowed by Richmond.
With the loss, Richmond ends the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 19-14. The Spiders made the postseason for the sixth time in the last seven years, recording the program's 12th postseason berth and ninth WNIT appearance.
"I am proud of the fight these ladies showed down the stretch," said head coach Michael Shafer after the game. "I hate that I'm not still coaching them and that they are not still playing. They never quit."
Senior Genevieve Okoro ended her spectacular Richmond career with a game-high 16 points to go with five rebounds and five steals. She hit her first four field goals and poured in 11 of Richmond's first 19 points to help jump out to an early lead. Junior Lauren Tolson had 15 points and five boards for the Spiders, while Janelle Hubbard chipped in six.
Trailing by six after the first half, the Dukes extended their lead to 15 points with a little more than 11 minutes remaining, 40-25. The Spiders answered right back, going on an 11-0 run to cut the advantage to just three, 37-34, with 7:19 left.
Duquesne pushed the lead back to seven points, but the Spiders fought back, going on a 9-0 run to take a 43-41 lead at the 3:48 mark. During the run, Tolson had five points for UR, while Okoro had an and-one on a layup to five the Spiders the lead.
Tied at 43-43, Tolson hit a pair of clutch free throws with just 25 seconds remaining to take a two-point lead. Seconds later with the game tied once again at 45-45, Hubbard converted a layup to give Richmond a two-point advantage.
Duquesne was able to get the final score, however, hitting a go-ahead three-pointer in the waning seconds to take the lead and the game, 48-47.
Much like in the Stetson win last Friday, the Spiders hit their free throws to keep it close. UR drained 11 of its 15 attempts from the line, including their last eight in a row in the waning minutes.
For all the latest on the Richmond women's basketball team, be sure to follow the team on Twitter - @RichmondWBBall and “Like” the team's Facebook page.
