Spiders Stage Another Big Comeback, Fall Just Short to Duquesne, 78-70

Sunday, February 4

Robins Center

12:00 PM

University of Richmond

9-15 (4-7)

Duquesne

19-4 (9-1)

Duquesne

Richmond

Spiders Stage Another Big Comeback, Fall Just Short to Duquesne, 78-70

02/04/2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: Matt Moretti III (@Moretts13)

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team (9-15, 4-7 Atlantic 10) took another one of the league's top teams down to the wire on Sunday afternoon but the hot shooting Duquesne Dukes (19-4, 9-1 A-10) were able to keep the Spiders at arms length down the stretch to come away with the 78-70 victory.

The two sides combined to put up 125 shots, 77 of which came off the hands of Spiders but Duquesne's ability to shoot at a 49.1 percent clip created the difference. Richmond did its best to keep pace, shooting 38.6 percent on its own, its third-highest field goal percentage so far this season.

Micaela Parson was the catalyst the whole way as the only Spider to reach double figures for the second-straight game. She dropped a season-high 28 points to go with six rebounds, seven assists and three steals in yet another stat sheet stuffing performance.

Amy Duggan added five points, eight boards and three steals off the pine, Alicia Hudalla dropped eight to go with four rebounds and a pair of blocks and Kylie Murphree added six points, two rebounds and five assists.

The first quarter was the very definition of fast and furious. The two sides ultimately combined to shoot 54.5 percent from the floor on a total 33 shots. The Spiders were forcing turnovers early and often and capitalizing on the other end to offset the Dukes who posted a 62.5 percent clip on their own in the first.

The score teetered back-and-forth early in the quarter with Duquesne grabbing the early lead but it was Richmond that took an 11-10 advantage into the first media timeout at the 4:46 mark. Duquesne immediately erased that after the break and built an eight-point advantage, 21-13, before an Amy Duggan triple put a stop to the run. Duquesne answered with a three ball of its own but Kylie Murphree drove the length and scored before the buzzer to leave her side in a six-point hole, 24-18, after one.

Micaela Parson took over in the second, scoring each of the first six Richmond points to make it a three-point game, 27-24, with 6:33 left in the half. Duquesne knocked down a couple of free throws before Fee canned her first triple of the afternoon at the 5:58 mark. However, Duquesne managed to built a couple of seven point leads late in the frame as the Spiders fell into some foul trouble but an Alex Parson long two at the buzzer made it a five-point game at the half.

Richmond shot a blistering 41.7 percent in the first half and forced seven turnovers that turned into 13 points on the other end. The Spiders also owned the paint, 22-10, and bench scoring, 10-1, but the Dukes' 50 percent shooting clip and 8-0 lead at the free throw line created the difference in this one.

The Spiders struggled to find their shot early in the third and by the 6:57 mark the Dukes had built a 12-point advantage. A, 6-0, Duquesne run followed the media timeout, that left Richmond with its largest deficit of the afternoon, 52-34. Hudalla canned a triple on the next Spider possession and the comeback was on. Micaela took over once again, scoring nine of the next 11 for the Spiders, including a step back triple at the buzzer to leave UR in just a nine-point hole with one quarter left to play.

Duquesne quickly pushed the lead to 12 at the beginning of the fourth but the Spiders responded with a 6-0 run of its own, forcing the Dukes into a timeout at the 5:40 mark. Murphree got out on the break after forcing a turnover and fed a streaking Duggan for the lay-in to force the timeout. From there a stalemate ensued. Richmond was unable to score again until the 2:37 mark when Micaela hit a pair of free throws but that was as close as the Spiders would come. Duquesne made free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

The Spiders will finally enjoy its bye week and rest up for a trip to La Salle next weekend looking to sweep the season series with the Explorers. That game will take place on Saturday (Feb. 10). Richmond will then head to St. Bonaventure the following Wednesday (Feb. 14) before returning home for round two with VCU, this time at the Robins Center, on Feb. 18. That game will tip off at 3 p.m.