Spiders Use Balanced Attack To Knock Off VCU, 69-64

Sunday, January 24

Richmond, VA

1PM

University of Richmond

7-4,4-2Atlantic 10

VCU

6-7,4-2Atlantic 10

Richmond

VCU

01/24/2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box score_at VCU Photo Gallery

RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team had four players finish in double-figures to help secure a 69-65 road win at VCU Sunday afternoon at the Siegel Center. The Spiders shot a season-high 54.0 percent from the field (27-for-50).

"I am really proud of our effort," head coach Aaron Roussell said. "A huge difference for us was the ability to score in the offensive end. VCU is a very good team and to win a rivalry game like this is great for our team. I am thrilled that we are able to enjoy this one."

Freshman Addie Budnik (Highland Park, Ill.) led the team with 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four blocks in 38 minutes. Freshman Grace Townsend (Midlothian, Va.) finished with 14 points, three rebounds and two assists off the bench. Junior Kate Klimkiewicz (Oakton, Va.) added 12 points and eight rebounds while classmate Aniyah Carpenter (Baltimore, Md.) scored 11 points off the bench, going 3-for-4 from the three-point line.

The Spiders (7-4, 4-2 A-10) snapped a five-game losing streak to VCU with a huge road win against the preseason Atlantic 10 favorite. Richmond was able to outrebound VCU 35-32 and went 11-for-16 from the free throw line, including a pair to seal the win in the fourth quarter.

With 2:24 on the clock, Richmond held a one-point lead before a layup from sophomore Elaina Chapman (Richmond, Va.) pushed the lead back to 63-60. After a defensive stop, Townsend made a clutch pull-up jumper to give the Spiders a 65-60 lead with only 1:19 remaining. VCU got within three points at 65-62 but Townsend made two free throws to go back in front by five 67-62. The Rams couldn't get any closer and the Spiders finished with free throws to put the game away.

Richmond trailed 39-30 at halftime after being outscored 25-15 in the second quarter. Budnik led the team with 10 points and Klimkiewicz added nine points. VCU hit five three-pointers to build their nine-point halftime lead. Taya Robinson and Sarah Te-Biasu each scored nine points.

The Spiders opened the game with a layup from Klimkiewicz to take an early 2-0 lead. Klimkiewicz hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 5-5 and Budnik made a layup to give Richmond a 7-5 lead. Chapman made back-to-back layups to push the lead to 11-8. VCU battled back to take a 14-11 lead after a 6-0 run capped off by a layup from Te-Biasu. Townsend ended the quarter with two layups to give the Spiders a one-point lead.

VCU opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to take a 21-15 lead. Budnik stopped the run with a layup to cut the lead to 21-17. With 3:57 remaining in the quarter, Klimkiewicz and Budnik made back-to-back layups to get the Spiders within one point at 25-24. The Rams ended the quarter on a 14-6 run to build a nine-point lead.

UR played their best third quarter of the season in outscoring VCU, 23-11, and held the Rams to just 23.1 percent from the field (3-for-13). Richmond shot 64.3 percent in the third off 9-for-14 from the field. Carpenter was a huge difference scoring eight of her 11 points in the quarter and was a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. Townsend added five points in the third. The Spiders came out of the locker room on fire going on a 13-2 run to take a 43-41 lead off a three-pointer from Carpenter. The Rams fought back and tied the game at 50-50 but Townsend made a layup plus the foul to give Richmond a 53-50 lead after three quarters.

Richmond's win at the Siegel Center is the first since an overtime victory on Jan. 28, 2018.

"To have to sit here for nine days and how hard we worked to fix some things ahead of this game, I'm just happy our kids got a reward for that," Roussell added.

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