Spiders Drop Cherokee Invitational Opener to Michigan State Wednesday Night

Wednesday, December 20

Cherokee, N.C.

9:30 p.m.

University of Richmond

9-3,0-0Atlantic 10

Michigan State

9-2,0-1Big Ten

Richmond

Michigan St.

Spiders Drop Cherokee Invitational Opener to Michigan State Wednesday Night

12/20/2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CHEROKEE, N.C. – Despite a third quarter surge, the University of Richmond Women's Basketball team dropped a tough battle, 83-76, to (RV)Michigan State Wednesday night in the opening game of the Cherokee Invitational. With the loss, the Spiders fell to 9-3 overall while the Spartans improved to 9-2.

Richmond Starters
Budnik, Doogan, Ryan, Hill, Townsend

How it Happened
The Spiders got out to a slow start as Michigan State went on a 9-0 run to open the game before Laren VanArsdale netted a three pointer to get Richmond on the board, 9-3. The Spartans went on another 9-0 run to build a 15-point lead. 18-3, but Addie Budnik recorded a layup with 4:30 left in the opening 10 minutes, and Maggie Doogan followed the play with a trey of her own to cut the MSU lead to 18-8. After another 6-0 spurt from the opposition, Doogan and Rachel Ullstrom combined for six points to end the first quarter down 10, 24-14.

In the second 10 minutes, Grace Townsend recorded a layup after a quick bucket from MSU, before the Spartans recorded back-to-back treys for a 29-17 lead. Michigan State and Richmond would exchange back and forth points on both coasts, before a technical on MSU following a shooting foul allowed Richmond to cut the Spartan lead to 41-34. MSU would get one final free throw off to send Richmond into the locker room down 42-34.

Out of the break, Richmond went on a 7-0 run after exchanging a few points to come within three, 46-43. Later, treys from Townsend and Budnik allowed Richmond to gain its first lead, 52-51 with 4:33 left in the quarter. Ullstrom would get a layup off with four seconds left to keep the game tied at 56, but MSU would respond on the other end of the court to bring a 58-56 advantage into the final 10 minutes.

MSU opened the final 10 minutes with a 9-0 run before Doogan ended the scoring drought for the Spiders with a mid-range jumper for a 67-60 Spartan lead. MSU would continue to put pressure on the Spider defense, netting a trey and a layup for a 74-62 lead with 3:23 left, but a 6-1 run from the Spiders would bring the score to 75-69 in favor of MSU. Richmond would attempt to get points back by fouling, but the Spartans would take the game 83-76.

Inside the Box Score

Addie Budnik led the team with 17 points, while two other Spiders, Grace Townsend (16) and Rachel Ullstrom (14) also finished the game in double figures.
Townsend led the team with seven rebounds and seven assists, while Budnik led the team with four blocks.
As a team, the Spiders shot 27 of 59 (45.8%) from the field, 11 of 31 (35.5%) from deep and 11 of 12 (91.7%) from the free throw line. In addition, the team also posted 28 rebounds, 17 assists, six blocks and 19 points off 13 Spartan turnovers.

Up Next
The Spiders look to round out the Cherokee Invitational on Thursday, as the team takes on Chattanooga at 7 p.m.