University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
9-9, 3-2 A-10
Rhode Island
4-13, 0-5 A-10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 13 | 6 | 16 | 23 | 58 |
| Rhode Island | 10 | 12 | 11 | 20 | 53 |
Spiders Pick Up Gritty Win at Rhode Island, 58-53
01/14/2017 | Women's Basketball
KINGSTON, R.I. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team (9-9, 3-2 A-10) needed to use every bit of grit and determination in its arsenal on Saturday afternoon because Rhode Island (4-14, 0-5 A-10) was up to the task but the Spiders were able to hold off the Rams to pick up the 58-53, victory.
The offense was sputtering after shooting just 28.5 percent over the first three quarters but the Spiders found a way, hitting big shot after big shot in fourth en route to shooting 7-14 down the stretch to put away the pesky Rams. Janelle Hubbard led the way for the visiting side with 15 points, pushing her into sixth on the Richmond all-time scoring list.
Amy Duggan was a surprise bright spot off the bench in front of a near hometown crowd. In front of over a dozen friends and family members the freshman went off for a career-best eight points, created in part by three steals, two of which she took coast-to-coast for buckets. She also added three rebounds and contributed a number of hustle plays.
Lauren Tolson and Jaide Hinds-Clarke each added seven points while Micaela Parson chipped in nine points and five assists. With the posts in foul trouble most of the game, Karleigh Wike and Alicia Hudalla inherited quite a few extra minutes, produced six points each and combined for seven rebounds.
This one started in a similar manner to the last few games for the Spiders, Murphree found Hinds-Clarke for a quick strike to put Richmond ahead early but there was a lid on the rim for both side for much of the first half. By the first media timeout, Richmond was holding on to a 6-4 lead. The first quarter came to a close with Hubbard driving, planting and fading away to drill a jumper at the buzzer to give the Spiders a 13-10 lead.
Rhode Island responded in the second quarter when the Spiders found themselves in heavy foul trouble. Hinds-Clarke, Wiseman, Hudalla and Duggan all picked up two fouls forcing Karleigh Wike and Tuuli Menna into action. Both did their part to keep this one close but the Rams took a three-point advantage, 22-19, into the locker rooms. The Spider defense kept the Rams to 33.3 percent shooting from the floor but managed just a 23.3 percent on the offensive end to keep it close.
The third quarter began with a Hinds-Clarke lay-in much like the start of the game but the back-and-forth ensued at this point. In total, the game ended with 10 ties and 18 lead changes. UR began to find its way shooting the ball in the third, scoring on 7-19 tries and to outscore the home side, 16-11. The Spiders led by two entering the fourth.
Hubbard dropped in a three ball to start the fourth quarter, sending the bench behind her into a frenzy and push UR ahead by five. The back-and-forth ensued as both sides knocked in clutch shot after clutch shot. With Richmond trailing by one at the 2:12 mark, Parson was fouled shooting a three ball but converted just one of three tries to tie the game. Wike knocked in a pair of free throws on the next possession to give the Spiders the lead and Hubbard buried a jumper to make it a four-point game to complete a 5-0 Richmond run with less than a minute to play. Richmond was able to hang on and make free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
The Spiders will return home after a pair of long road trips this week to host La Salle in the Robins Center on Wednesday (Jan. 19) at 7 p.m. then will host George Mason on Sunday at 5 p.m.
