Spiders Drop Tough Decision at Villanova Thursday Night

Thursday, November 30

Villanova, Pa.

7 p.m.

University of Richmond

6-2,0-0Atlantic 10

Villanova

5-1,0-0Big East

Richmond

Villanova

Spiders Drop Tough Decision at Villanova Thursday Night

11/30/2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

VILLANOVA, PA. – With eight lead changes and a strong offensive push in the final 10 minutes, the University of Richmond Women's Basketball team dropped a tough battle at Villanova on Thursday. With the loss, the Spiders moved to 6-2 on the young season while the Wildcats improved to 5-1.

Richmond Starters
Budnik, Doogan, Hill, Ryan, Townsend

How it Happened
Villanova got on the board first with a layup a minute into the game. Grace Townsend got things rolling for the Spiders with a pull up jumper to tie the game at two, and put the Spiders ahead, 4-2, with another bucket. Addie Budnik got her first points of the game 30 seconds later to push the Spider lead to 6-2 with 6:06 left in the first 10 minutes. The Wildcats then went on a 5-0 run to take back the lead, 7-6, before Katie Hill ended the scoring drought and sunk a trey and a layup for a 11-7 Spider lead. Villanova was able to get two more shots off before the buzzer sounded to tie the game at 11.

In the second 10 minutes, Budnik got a three pointer off following a Wildcat layup to preserve a slight Spider lead, 14-13. After exchanging a few points, a Wildcat bucket would tie the game again at 21, before a 9-0 run from the opposition would send the Spiders into the locker room trailing 30-21.

Out of the break, the Wildcats went on a quick 4-0 run before Maggie Doogan pulled one back for the Spiders for a 34-24 NOVA lead. Later, Rachel Ullstrom picked up a wide-open trey to keep the Spiders within striking distance, 41-31 with 4:42 left in the quarter. Siobhan Ryan and Doogan combined for six points to end the third quarter with the Spiders down 45-37.

Doogan opened the final 10 minutes with a layup to cut the Wildcat lead to six, 45-39, but the opposition quickly responded and rebuilt an 11-point lead off a trey with 8:55 left in the game. After Townsend netted the hoop-and-harm, the Wildcats went on a 6-0 run to push the lead to 56-45 with 5:31 left in the game. The Spiders continued to put pressure on the Villanova defense, but the Wildcats would quickly respond to the Spider offense. NOVA would end the game with a pair of free throws for a 67-57 win.

Inside the Box Score

Maggie Doogan paced the team with 18 points, pushing her double-digit scoring streak to seven, and posting her 21^st career game in double figures.
Two other Spiders, Addie Budnik and Grace Townsend also finished the game in double figures as Budnik posted 13 and Townsend had 11.
Townsend also led the team in rebounds and assists with eight and six, respectively, while Doogan posted seven rebounds and three assists.
Budnik paced the team with three blocks while Rachel Ullstrom recorded a team-high two thefts.
As a team, the Spiders went 22 of 54 (40.7%) from the field, 6 of 20 (30%) from deep and 7 of 8 (87.5%) from the charity stripe. The team also recorded 33 rebounds, 11 assists, five blocks and nine points off nine Wildcat turnovers.
Villanova evened the all-time record with the Spiders (1-1).

From Head Coach Aaron Roussell

Up Next
The Spiders look to begin a four-game homestand on Sunday as the team plays host to Le Moyne at 2 p.m. inside the Robins Center before welcoming Appalachian State on Dec. 10 and Liberty on Dec. 16.