Spiders Conclude Nonconference Slate with win over Chattanooga

Thursday, December 21

Cherokee, N.C.

7 p.m.

University of Richmond

10-3,0-0Atlantic 10

Chattanooga

11-3,0-0SoCon

Chattanooga

Richmond

Photo of Torin Rogers during the Cherokee Invitational

Spiders Conclude Nonconference Slate with win over Chattanooga

12/21/2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CHEROKEE, N.C. – Behind 17 points from Maggie Doogan, the University of Richmond Women's Basketball team rounded out the 2023-24 nonconference slate and the Cherokee Invitational with a 64-60 win over Chattanooga Thursday evening. With the win, the Spiders improved to 10-3 overall while the Mocs fell to 11-3.

Richmond Starters
Budnik, Doogan, Ryan, Hill, Townsend

How it Happened
The Spiders got off to a slow start as Chattanooga jumped out to a 10-2 lead following a pair of free throws by Doogan. Laren VanArsdale would get some offensive power going as she netted a triple with 3:24 left in the opening quarter for a 10-5 UTC lead. Siobhan Ryan and Addie Budnik then combined for eight points to give Richmond a 14-10 lead through the first 10 minutes.

Chattanooga opened the second 10 minutes with a layup to cut the Spider lead to 14-12, and followed the play with another layup to tie the game at 14. After a turnaround jumper from UTC, Doogan tied the game again at 16 off two free throws. Rachel Ullstrom then went on a hot streak, putting up seven points to give the Spiders a 23-16 advantage with just under three minutes in the half. After exchanging a couple of points, Grace Townsend netted a buzzer-beater to send Richmond into the locker room up 27-21.

In the third quarter, UTC quickly got a layup off, but Budnik responded with a triple to preserve the Spider lead, 30-23. The Mocs then cut the Richmond lead to 34-30, but Townsend and Budnik combined for three points for a 37-30 advantage. After exchanging points, Torin Rogers, in front of her hometown crowd, netted a trey to give Richmond a 46-38 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.

Townsend opened the final frame with a pair of free throws before the opposition got a jumper off to keep Richmond within eight, 48-40. With 7:23 left in the game, Ullstrom recorded a trey and then a layup to push the Spider lead to 53-42. The Mocs recorded a triple with 4:41 left on the clock, but Doogan responded with a turnaround jumper for a 57-48 Spider lead. UTC then went on a 5-0 run before Ally Sweeney got a pair of free throws off for a 59-53 score line. After the Mocs cut the Spider lead down to four, 62-58, Doogan was able to solidify the game in favor of Richmond off two additional free throws, 64-60.

Inside the Box Score

Maggie Doogan led the team with 17 points on 5 of 10 from the field and a perfect 7 of 7 from the free throw line. She also collected a team-high seven boards.
Two other Spiders, Rachel Ullstrom (15) and Addie Budnik (10) also finished the game in double figures.
Budnik recorded a team-high six assists, while Ullstrom led the way with three thefts.
The all-time record against Chattanooga moved to 2-1 in favor of Richmond.
As a team, the Spiders shot 19 of 50 (38%) from the field, 7 of 26 (26.9%) from deep and 19 of 20 (95%) from the free throw line. In addition, the team had 29 rebounds, 12 assists, four steals, three blocks and 12 points off 10 UTC turnovers.
Richmond finished the nonconference slate 10-3 overall, a perfect 5-0 at home, 2-2 on the road and 3-1 on neutral courts.

From Head Coach Aaron Roussell
"Overall, we have to be happy with our weekend," Roussell said. "Two well played games against two high-level opponents is a positive; the loss to Michigan State still stings, but I think we can build on that. Chattanooga was an NCAA team last year and could very well be one again which will prove to be a very good win for us through A-10 play. We had some really great performances from our bench over the tournament and that I think is one of the most important takeaways. It's a great comfort for us as a coaching staff to have different players step up in different games and we will need more of that throughout the season."

Up Next
Richmond will look to open Atlantic 10 Conference play on Dec. 30 at George Washington at noon before welcoming VCU to the Robins Center to ring in the New Year on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m.