Richmond Falls Short In Thriller Against Rhode Island

Friday, January 15

Robins Center

5PM

University of Richmond

6-4,3-2Atlantic 10

Rhode Island

4-5,4-2Atlantic 10

Rhode Island

Richmond

Richmond Falls Short In Thriller Against Rhode Island

01/15/2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box score_Rhode Island

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team had multiple chances to tie the game late but couldn't convert in a 56-53 loss against Rhode Island Friday night at the Robins Center. Junior Kate Klimkiewicz (Oakton, Va.) led the way with 17 points and seven rebounds.

"It was a disappointing result," Head coach Aaron Roussell said. "A hard-fought game but unfortunately we didn't execute down the stretch. We know we are better than what we showed. We defended them very well at the three-point line. Tahane was just a beast in there and was a big-time difference for them tonight."

The Spiders (6-4, 3-2 A-10) snap their three-game winning streak and fall for the first time this season after going 6-0 when leading after three quarters. Richmond shot 38.3 percent from the field off 18-for-47 and 37.5 percent from the three-point line (9-of-24). The Spiders were outrebounded 34-29 and had 18 turnovers in the loss.

Klimkiewicz shot 6-for-13 from the field and was 5-for-9 from downtown with three steals. Sophomore Elaina Chapman (Richmond, Va.) finished with eight points and five rebounds. Freshman Grace Townsend (Midlothian, Va.) added 10 points, three assists and three rebounds off the bench.

The game featured 13 lead changes and two ties. The difference was Rhode Island outscored Richmond, 13-7, in the fourth quarter and held on with clutch baskets from Emmanuelle Tahane. Tahane finished with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds to post a double-double. She played all 40 minutes and only missed two shots from the field (11-for-13).

With seven seconds left, Rhode Island's Marta Vargas missed two free throws to give the Spiders one last chance. UR got the ball in but wasn't able to get a potential tying three-pointer off before the buzzer. The Spiders only scored seven points in the fourth quarter and were held scoreless for the final five minutes of the game.

The Spiders held a 30-25 lead against Rhode Island at halftime. Junior Madelyn Neff (Hayward, Wis.) hit a clutch three-pointer to end the second quarter to give Richmond a five-point lead. UR shot 50 percent off 11-for-22 from the field after two quarters.

Richmond opened the game with a 6-3 lead after back-to-back layups from Chapman and Klimkiewicz. Klimkiewicz hit a three-pointer to push the lead to 10-5 with 3:35 on the clock. The Spiders held the Rams to just 10 points in the first quarter leading to a 16-10 advantage.

In the second quarter, Rhode Island went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to 18-17 capped by a layup from Catherine Cairns. Chapman was able to get free for a couple of layups but the Rams wouldn't go away. Tahane scored 10 of her 12 points in the second quarter to keep Rhode Island close.

Both teams came out hot to start the third quarter as Rhode Island scored eight points in a row to take a 33-30 lead two minutes in. Junior Claire Holt (Hoover, Ala.) stopped the run with a layup inside and a three-pointer by Townsend gave Richmond the lead back at 37-35. With a minute left in the third, Klimkiewicz nailed a three-pointer to tie the game up at 43-43. Townsend showed her athleticism grabbing a defensive rebound and raced down the floor making the layup plus the foul to end the third quarter.

Rhode Island finished the game with 40 points in the paint and 13 second chance points. Richmond had 19 points from its bench and scored 15 points off turnovers.

Richmond will host UMass in a nationally-televised contest on Sunday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.

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