Spiders Use Huge First Quarter Run to Win Fourth Straight

Monday, December 20

Boca Raton, FL

12 p.m.

University of Richmond

8-4,0-0Atlantic 10

Southern Miss

-83,00 CUSA

Richmond

Southern Miss.

Spiders Use Huge First Quarter Run to Win Fourth Straight

12/20/2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Richmond women's basketball closed out the FAU Pre-Christmas Tournament 2-0 after using a 20-0 run in the first quarter to defeat Southern Miss, 87-75, Monday afternoon. In the process of winning their fourth straight, the Spiders snapped a five-game win streak for Southern Miss to improve to 8-4 overall this season while the Lady Eagles drop to 8-3.

Three Spiders scored in double-figures, led by Siobhan Ryan who paced all scorers in the game with a career-high 25 points.

"It was a fantastic performance for our team today in a really tough matchup. We knew [Southern Miss'] size and athleticism would give us problems, but our kids executed and played so well together today," said head coach Aaron Roussell. "We've struggled on the boards this year, and [Southern Miss] is one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. It was a team effort today limiting them and also turning those defensive boards into transition for us. Two weeks ago, we made it a point to get to the break at 8-4. Our group has worked hard in every practice and game since that point to ensure a happy holiday break. I love where we are with this group, and look forward to getting them back after some time off."

After getting down 5-0 quickly in the first quarter, Grace Townsend sparked a 20-0 run for the Spiders with an and-one at 8:25. The Richmond run spanned 4:37 and was capped off by another and-one, this time for Emma Squires. Richmond held Southern Miss cold on the floor for 5:10 in the first and closed out the frame with a 25-13 lead.

Squires opened the second quarter with a triple, and after a trey from Claire Holt, back-to-back 3-pointers for Richmond would put the Spiders up 39-20 with 6:27 to go in the period. The Spiders and Eagles exchanged baskets throughout the rest of the quarter and three Spiders were in double-figures by halftime for a 52-36 Richmond lead.

Southern Miss got off to a fast start in the third with a 6-0 run to force a Richmond timeout, but the Spiders responded with back-to-back layups to keep their lead in double-digits. Four straight free throws from Squires pushed Richmond's lead back to 16 at 62-46, and a buzzer-beating triple from Kylee Lewandowski sent the Spiders into the final frame with a 70-57 lead.

Early in the fourth, the Lady Eagles cut their deficit down to single digits for the first time since the 4:46 mark in the first with five straight points to open the frame. A triple from Kate Klimkiewicz pushed Richmond's lead back to double digits at 7:08, and later Madelyn Neff swiped a pass that led to a Ryan triple that extended the lead to 84-65 with 4:46 to go. Townsend added a layup at 2:17 before Richmond coasted to the win.

Notables

Free throws and 3-pointers proved to be the difference in the game as both teams hit 32 field goals, but Richmond made 12 triples compared to eight for Southern Miss and 11 free throws compared to Southern Miss' three.
Siobhan Ryan posted her second 20+ point effort in three games and her third of the season with a career-high 25 points, which paced all scorers in the game.
Grace Townsend was one assists shy of her second double-double of the season with a tied career-high 19 points and nine assists. She also pulled down five rebounds.
Emma Squires double-figures in her fifth straight game with 18 alongside a steal, a block, and four rebounds.
Addie Budnik's double-digit scoring streak came to an end, but she led the Spiders on the boards with seven rebounds, five of them on the offensive end, in addition to four assists, a steal, and a block.

The Spiders return to action Dec. 29 when they host Coppin State at the Robins Center in the non-conference finale. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

-- UR --