University of Richmond
Fordham
Spiders Fall To Fordham On Late Free Throw In A-10 Tourney
03/06/2015 | Women's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond Spiders women's basketball team fell to the Fordham Rams, 46-45, on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Tournament at the Richmond Coliseum.
With the setback, No. 5-seeded Richmond falls to 18-13 on the season overall, while the No. 4-seeded Rams improve to 20-10 and will face the top-seeded and No. 19-ranked George Washington Colonials on Saturday.
“Despite the outcome, I couldn't be more proud of this team and this group of ladies,” Richmond head coach Michael Shafer said following the game. “No one knows what this group has been through. I'm fortunate to coach this team.”
Freshman Micaela Parson scored a career-high 12 points to go with four assists and four rebounds to lead the Spiders. Sophomore Janelle Hubbard added 11 points, while seniors Genevieve Okoro and Liz Brown each had eight.
In the first half, it was all Parson for the Spiders, as the freshman scored 10 points off the bench in the first 20 minutes to lead Richmond. Trailing 14-4 with 10:55 remaining, the Spiders ended the half on a 16-6 run to send the game in to the half all tied up at 20-20.
Richmond's defense was key in the first half, limiting Fordham to just 9-of-25 (36 percent) while forcing nine turnovers.
Coming out of the locker room at half, the Spiders were on fire, scoring the first seven points to take a 27-20 lead. Fordham stormed back, however, capitalizing on a Richmond dry spell to take a 36-31 with 7:29 remaining after a 10-0 run.
Richmond refused to give in, coming right back at the Rams with an 8-2 run over the next five minutes to take the lead right back, 39-38, with 3:42 remaining.
Over the final 3:42, the two teams exchanged the lead five times in a great, back-and-forth finish to the game.
With just 10 seconds remaining and Fordham leading 45-43, Okoro was fouled after grabbing a big offensive rebound. The senior couldn't have been more clutch, sinking both of the free throws calmly to tie the game at 45-45.
On the ensuing Fordham possession, the Spiders looked to have gotten the stop they needed to force overtime, but the Rams' Taryn Durant was fouled on a drive with just 1.7 second left. Durant hit the first free throw and missed the second, but Lauren Tolson's desperation heave from beyond half court was no good, sealing the win for the Rams.
The Spiders await their postseason fate, to be decided March 16 as announced by the Women's National Invitation Tournament.
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.
