University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
9-10 (3-3 A-10)
La Salle
10-8 (3-3 A-10)
Spiders Come Up Just Short in Battle with La Salle, 63-58
01/19/2017 | Women's Basketball
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team (9-10, 3-3 A-10) hit big shot after big shot on Wednesday evening but La Salle (10-8, 3-3 A-10) had answers all night long and were able to come away with a 63-58 win at the hands of the Spiders.
Janelle Hubbard did her best to keep the Spiders alive all night, scoring 15 of her game-high 23 in the first half. She netted 9 of 18 tries from the floor and cashed in 3-5 shots from long distance in 37 minutes of action off the bench. Only Micaela Parson was able to join Hubbard in double-figures with 10 while Jaide Hinds-Clarke added nine points and nine boards.
The Richmond effort was truly remarkable. La Salle managed to shoot 47.5 percent from the floor against the Spiders' 30 percent but the home side was never more than seven points behind. In fact, Richmond won both the first and fourth quarters and had multiple chances to tie or take the lead late but La Salle was able to match any comeback effort with a big shot of its own.
The defense turned the Explorers over 17 times and handed out two more assists but La Salle created an advantage on the glass, out-boarding the Spiders, 44-40, contributing to a 34-24 advantage in the paint. The Spiders did, however, score 12 points off those turnovers and create 17, second chance points.
The fourth quarter began with the Spiders trailing by six, 48-42, but Hubbard exerted her will and scored a driving layup to get things started. Hinds-Clarke buried a pair of free throws on the next possession. With the lead down to just two, La Salle answered with a jumper in the lane to push it back to four.
Parson made a move in the lane on the next trip and stepped back for a pull-up jumper that found the bottom but once again La Salle was able to answer to retake a four-point lead. That back-and-forth continued until the 2:41 mark when Hinds-Clarke collected a rebound, got out in transition and finished in the lane off a nice pass from Amy Duggan.
La Salle called timeout and drew up an Amy Griffin jumper that put the lead back to three with 1:21 to go. Hubbard drove the lane on the next trip and threw up a shot but it sailed over the top of the basket. Hinds-Clarke was there to clean up and finish to get it back to a one-point game but that was as close as the Spiders came. La Salle was able to make free throws the rest of the way to secure the victory.
Richmond will return to the Robins Center floor on Sunday afternoon when it welcomes George Mason for the first of two tilts with the Patriots this season. The game will tip off at 5 p.m. and will be the second part of a double-header with the men's basketball team.
