University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
0-1,0-0Atlantic 10
Charlotte
-10,00 CUSA
Budnik Records First-Career Double-Double in Season Opener against Charlotte
11/09/2021 | Women's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team opened the 2021-22 season Tuesday afternoon by hosting the Charlotte 49ers at the Robins Center. It was the first time the Spiders opened the season at home since 2018, and Richmond fell to Charlotte 63-45 to begin the season 0-1 while the Conference USA preseason favorite 49ers begin the season 1-0.
Tuesday also marked the start of 50 seasons of basketball at the Robins Center as well as year three for head coach Aaron Roussell at the helm of the program.
How It Happened
Charlotte jumped out to a quick lead in the game, but Richmond kept things close throughout the first half as Townsend drained a three with four minutes to go in the first quarter followed by a fastbreak layup a minute later to pull the Spiders with one at 13-12.
Midway through the second frame, Klimkiewicz and Budnik combined for a 9-2 Richmond run to once again cut the deficit to one point, this time at 24-23 with 4:02 remaining in the first half.
The third quarter proved detrimental to the Spiders as they went almost three minutes and four possessions without a shot until Budnik hit a layup at 7:12. Richmond was outscored 22-7 in the frame to go into the final quarter trailing 50-30.
The Spiders went on to outscore Charlotte 15-13 in the fourth, including a 7-0 run midway through the frame.
Notables
Sophomore and 2020-21 Atlantic 10 freshman of the year Addie Budnik had a career day, shooting 6-for-8 from the field and a perfect 3-for-3 from the charity stripe. She led the Spiders in scoring with 16 points alongside a game-high and career-high 10 rebounds for her first-career double-double. Budnik also posted six blocks to tie a career-high.
Senior Kate Klimkiewicz scored in double-figures in her eighth straight game. She posted 10 points for a career-high double-figure scoring streak. Klimkiewicz also pulled down six boards in the game.
Grace Townsend swiped four passes to tie a career-high in steals. She added seven points and three assists on the day.
Freshmen Sydney Boone and Cayla Williams each made their Richmond debut, and Williams was solid on the boards with five rebounds in 12 minutes of playing time.
Quotable
"Credit to Charlotte today. They played well and really made things difficult for us starting in that third quarter," said Coach Roussell. "Going inside, I thought we were so insistent on trying to slow their penetration, which I actually thought we did a pretty good job of in the first half. Normally we're pretty good starting the second half, and I thought that egg we laid in the third quarter today was a huge part of it. Shots just didn't fall and we struggled offensively. I thought we played hard today, though, and I don't think I have to question our effort. Charlotte beat us up a little bit on the boards, but our effort was there defensively."
The Spiders head out on the road for the first time this weekend when they travel to Hampton Saturday, Nov. 13 for a 5 p.m. tip.
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