Klimkiewicz Scores 23 In Spiders Loss Against UMass

Sunday, February 28

Kingston, RI

4:30PM

University of Richmond

12-8,9-6Atlantic 10

UMass

11-6,7-5Atlantic 10

Richmond

Massachusetts

Photo by: Spiders Athletics

02/28/2021 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box score_UMass

KINGSTON, RI. – The University of Richmond women's basketball team tried to make a fourth quarter comeback but fell short against UMass 70-65 Sunday at the Thomas M. Ryan Center.

"We had some definite bright spots today but just weren't able to sustain the things we needed to do for a positive result," head coach Aaron Roussell said. "Transition defense hurt us and offensively we weren't able to capitalize on some opportunities when they switched against our offense. It's a tough way to end the regular season but if we can learn the lessons that were driven home to us this weekend I like what this group is capable of in a tournament setting."

The Spiders (12-8, 9-6 A-10) finished the Atlantic 10 regular season and will have nine days to prepare for the A-10 Championships (March 10-14), presented by Air Force reserve. Junior Kate Klimkiewicz (Oakton, Va.) tied her A-10 high of 23 points and was two off of her career high 25 points against Gardner-Webb earlier in the season. Klimkiewicz hit a career-high six three-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds.

Richmond shot 39.3 percent from the field (24-for-61) and hit 10 three-pointers but a tough third quarter proved to be the difference in the contest. Freshman Addie Budnik (Highland Park, Ill.) finished with 13 points, three rebounds and two blocks. Budnik shot 5-for-10 from the field and continues her streak of recording a block in every game this season. Senior Alex Parson (North Chesterfield, Va.) tied her season high with nine points and pulled down four rebounds. The Spiders outrebounded UMass, 46-42, including 10 from sophomore Elaina Chapman (Richmond, Va.).

The Spiders had trouble in the third quarter for the second-straight game as UMass took control with points in the paint. The Minutewomen outscored Richmond, 23-12 in the third and scored 16 points in the paint. Sam Breen had her best quarter of the game with seven points and grabbed seven rebounds without missing a shot (3-for-3). Breen finished with a double-double of 14 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. UR was leading 36-31 with 7:30 remaining in the third before UMass went on a 14-2 run to pull ahead 45-38 off a layup from Ber'Nyah Mayo. The Spiders got with four points but UMass made two free throws to take a 48-42 lead into the final quarter.

Freshman Grace Townsend (Midlothian, Va.) hit a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter and get Richmond within three at 48-45. Breen pushed the lead back to 50-45 with a fast break layup. Richmond had a chance to cut the lead to two but Townsend only made one of two free throws with 4:50 remaining. Mayo drilled a dagger three-pointer to give UMass a 59-53 lead. UR had another chance after Klimkiewicz hit a three-pointer to make it 61-58 with 1:13 left. UMass again answered with a three-pointer from Sydney Taylor with 47 seconds left. UMass wouldn't miss from the foul line going 8-for-8 to finish the game.

Richmond led 30-25 at halftime after Klimkiewicz led the way with 14 points in the first two quarters. The Spiders held UMass to just nine points in the second quarter but didn't capitalized going scoreless themselves for the final five minutes. UMass could have been down eight but Destiney Philoxy hit a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer to get within five.

Kilmkiewicz and Budnik each scored to start the game to give Richmond an early 4-2 lead. UMass responded with back-to-back buckets to pull ahead 6-4 but Budnik hit two free throws to tie the game at 6-6. The run would continue thanks to three-pointers from Budnik and Klimkiewicz to take a 14-6 lead off a 10-0 burst. The Spiders held a 19-11 lead but the Minutewomen scored the last five points of the first quarter to only trail 19-16

UR will prepare for the 20201 Atlantic 10 Championships that will start on Wednesday, March 10 presented by Air Force reserve. The Spiders earned the No. 6 seed and will play the winner of George Washington and George Mason on Thursday, March 11 at 8 p.m. at the Siegel Center.

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