Spiders Lean on Defense to Earn Road Win at Old Dominion, 54-45

Sunday, November 26

Norfolk, VA

2:00 PM

University of Richmond

5-3

Old Dominion

0-6

Richmond

Old Dominion

Spiders Lean on Defense to Earn Road Win at Old Dominion, 54-45

11/26/2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Matt Moretti III (@Moretts13)

NORFOLK, Va. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team (5-3) saw its offense really challenged by an opposing defense for the first time this season and it responded in impressive fashion, leaning on defense and efficiency to knock off Old Dominion (0-6) on the road, 54-45.

Micaela Parson led the Spiders with 15 points on 5-9 shooting to go with six rebounds, five assists and a pair of steals in a season-high 36 minutes. Only Dee Hatcher joined her in double-figures with 11. The Spider defense was the third star by holding ODU to 34.8 percent shooting from the field and just 3-17 from long range.

The Spider offense took a few minutes to find its rhythm in the first quarter and in the meantime the Monarchs jumper out to an 8-0 lead. Coach Shafer called timeout and the team regrouped then rolled out a 15-2 run that extended into the second quarter to take a 15-10 lead by the 8:12 mark.

Micaela Parson led the charge for the Spiders. She scored or assisted on 14 of Richmond's 19 first-half points. Old Dominion heated up from the field again down the stretch in the second and took a 21-19 advantage into the locker rooms.

The Spiders were held to season lows in points and field goal percentage in the first half of their fourth game in six days. Six different players did find their way into the box score but only Micaela had multiple field goals to her credit. Richmond did hold a 23-19 advantage on the boards held ODU to 32.1 percent shooting from the floor. The 21 first-half points for ODU are a season-low for the Spider defense.

The Spiders jumped out quickly in the second half. Micaela drove the lane and scored on the first possession then Amy Duggan canned a trouble on the next forcing ODU into an early timeout. Richmond extended its lead out to eight points by the 5:15 mark and led by as many as 12 late in the quarter as Dee Hatcher and Kailyn Fee heated up from the perimeter.

Old Dominion pushed back late in the fourth quarter. Micaela knocked in a free throw at the 3:30 mark to give her team a 13-point lead but ODU responded with a 6-0 run to cut the Spider lead to seven with 2:04 to play. Coach Shafer called timeout and the Spiders responded once again in the form of a Hatcher jumper. Micaela later drove and converted a pair of free throws to seal this one.

The Spiders now turn their focus to a trio of upcoming home games after playing seven of their first eight away from the Robins Center. The action gets started on Wednesday (Nov. 29) at 3 p.m. opposite cross-state rival William & Mary.