University of Richmond Athletics
Women's Basketball Gameday Central - Columbia
11/13/2016 | Women's Basketball
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond women's basketball team (0-0) will finally open its 2016-17 season on Sunday when it welcomes Columbia (0-1) to the Robins Center for a 2 p.m. tip.
The highly anticipated season arrives with a finally healthy Spider squad bolstered by the return of Lauren Tolson and the addition of four highly-touted freshman, not to mention All-Conference performer Janelle Hubbard in towe.
Live Stats, Live Audio and Live Video for Sunday's game can be found on RichmondSpiders.com. For complete gameday coverage of Richmond basketball, be sure to scroll down for Gameday Central.
| GAMEDAY CENTRAL | |
| Who | Richmond (0-0) vs. Columbia (0-1) |
| When | Sunday, November 13 - 2 PM |
| Where | University of Richmond, Va. |
| Venue | Robins Center (7,201) | Directions |
| Radio | RichmondSpiders.com |
| Live TV/Video | RichmondSpiders.com |
| Live Stats | RichmondStats.com |
| Game Notes | Richmond | Columbia | A-10 |
| SpiderTV | Tolson Returns | Shafer Preview |
| Spider Voices | Micaela Parson: Pay for Play | What's In A Number: Alicia Hudalla |
| Social Media | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram |
| Hashtags | #OneRichmond | #UnitedInRed |
GETTING STARTED
The University of Richmond women's basketball team returns 90% of its scoring, 75% of its rebounds and 87% of its minutes from a season ago including Preseason All-Conference First Team selection Janelle Hubbard who scored 492 points to move into 10th on the program's all-time scoring list. Micaela Parson also returns alongside Hubbard after having a breakout season in 2015-16. Parson was arguably the most-improved player in the league, jumping her scoring average to 13.0 points, up from 3.1 as a freshman in 2014-15.
LAUREN TOLSON RETURNS
Lauren Tolson returns for a fifth and final season in 2016 after being granted an extra year of eligibility following an injury that knocked her out after just eight games last season. She averaged 13.4 points per game before she went out and made 20 triples, which ultimately landed third among her teammates at season's end.
ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
Since joining the Atlantic 10 before the 2001-02 campaign the Spiders have had 23 individuals chosen to the postseason All-Conference awards lists, not including eight All-Defensive team choices and six All-Rookie team selections. Janelle Hubbard has already been chosen to the preseason second team and Lauren Tolson was a preseason third team choice a year ago.
FOUR NEW FRESHMEN
The Spiders have added size in recruiting this season. Jaide Hinds-Clarke, Amy Duggan and Ragan Wiseman all clock in north of six-feet tall with Daniella Hatcher coming in at 5-8 to match the size of Janelle Hubbard and Micaela Parson. Hinds-Clarke is a classic post player with size and strength while Duggan and Wiseman will stretch the floor. Hatcher carries many similarities to Parson as slashing guard with a good combination of speed and strength.
BIG HOME DATES
Richmond will host in-state rival Virginia and 2016 NCAA Tournament team Penn at home this season. It will be the first time that the Cavaliers will visit the Robins Center since the 2011-12 season when the Spiders hosted them in the second round of the WNIT. Virginia visited Richmond twice that season.
Penn will visit the Robins Center for the first time since 1995 having never beaten the Richmond Spiders in seven tries. Penn went 24-5 last season, earning a share of the Ivy League title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a 10-seed before going down to eventual Final Four team Washington.
WILLIAM & MARY RIVALRY
Richmond will do battle with William & Mary for the 113th time this season when they visit Williamsburg in November. The Spiders bested the tribe in Richmond last season and have won seven-straight in the series.
MUCH IMPROVED PARSON
Sophomore Micaela Parson established herself as the second scoring option to Janelle Hubbard on the Spiders roster in the absence of Lauren Tolson. Parson emerged from a non-descript freshman campaign to average 13.0 points per game, culminating in a 23-point performance at VCU. She canned 17 of those points in the first half alone. The sophomore closed the season scoring in double-figures in nine-straight games.
