Spiders Drop Tough Battle at Duquesne Saturday Afternoon

Saturday, February 18

Pittsburgh, PA

2 p.m.

University of Richmond

16-9,6-6Atlantic 10

Duquesne

17-10,7-7Atlantic 10

Richmond

Duquesne

Spiders Drop Tough Battle at Duquesne Saturday Afternoon

02/18/2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – In a game that saw 11 lead changes, the University of Richmond Women's Basketball team dropped a heartbreaking battle, 83-69 Saturday afternoon at Duquesne. With the loss, the Spiders fell to 16-9 overall and 6-6 in conference play while the Dukes improved to 17-10 overall and an even 7-7 in the Atlantic 10.

"It was a disappointing result for us today," said Head Coach Aaron Roussell. "We did a lot of things well in the third quarter, but we struggled to score at the basket today. They used their physicality and bothered us both finishing on offense and then on defense."

The Spiders were led by three players in double figures. Juniors Addie Budnik and Grace Townsend each put up 12 points in the contest while sophomore Katie Hill chipped in 10 points. Budnik's 12 points puts her 28 points shy of joining the 1,000-point club at 972 points. Hill led the team with six rebounds while Townsend dropped a team-high six dimes. As a team, the Spiders shot 23 of 61 (37.7%) from the field, 12 of 25 (48%) from deep and 11 of 15 (73.3%) from the line. In addition, the team recorded 23 rebounds, six being offensive, 14 assists, two blocks, four thefts and six points off 15 Duke turnovers. The Spiders bench was active on the afternoon as it combined for 19 points.

Richmond opened the first quarter with a 6-0 run before the Dukes battled back to come within two, 8-6. The Spiders were then able to build a 17-11 lead with 1:55 left. A final layup from Boone gave UR a five-point advantage, 19-14 through the first 10 minutes.

The Dukes held Richmond scoreless in the second quarter until Townsend ended the scoring drought with a driving layup at the 6:50 mark to preserve the Spider lead at 21-19. DUQ then went on a 6-4 run to tie the game at 25 with 3:24 left in the half. The Dukes would end the half on a 5-2 run to send the Spiders into the locker room down 32-27.

At the half, the Spiders were led by Budnik and sophomore Sydney Boone, who each chipped in eight points while Hill led the way with three rebounds and two assists. As a team, the Spiders shot 10 of 35 (28.6%) from the field, 5 of 12 (41.7%) from deep and a perfect 2 of 2 from the line, courtesy of Budnik. In addition, the team had 12 rebounds, seven dimes and 10 bench points.

The Dukes came out of the locker room with an 8-0 run to open the third quarter. Townsend ended the drought with a trey to cut the DUQ lead to 40-30 as junior Siobhan Ryan followed the play with a trey of her own to continue to scratch back at the deficit. Freshman Maggie Doogan sparked a 15-4 run for the Spiders off a trey to give UR a 48-44 lead with 2:55 left in the quarter. The Spiders would then end the third quarter with a 10-4 run to go into the fourth quarter up 59-53.

Duquesne again opened with a 10-3 run to open the final 10 minutes to take a 63-62 lead. Townsend got the Spiders back on track with the hoop-and-harm to regain the lead, 65-63 with 6:52 left in the game. Duquesne then went on a 10-0 run before Budnik made a layup for a 76-69 deficit with 1:51 left. The Dukes then recorded five-straight buckets to go up 81-61 as the Spiders couldn't get a final shot off, falling to Duquesne, 83-69.

UP NEXT – The Spiders look to round out the regular season next week, taking on VCU on the road on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. and will host Senior Night, alumni night and the Pow(HER) On game on Feb. 25 against Saint Bonaventure at 6 p.m.