Spiders fall Short at Duquesne Wednesday Night

Wednesday, January 24

Pittsburgh, Pa.

6 p.m.

University of Richmond

17-4,7-1Atlantic 10

Duquesne

11-8,6-2Atlantic 10

Richmond

Duquesne

01/24/2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Behind a slow offensive night for the Spiders from mid-range and deep, the University of Richmond Women's Basketball team suffered its first Atlantic 10 Conference loss of the season, 72-59, on the road at Duquesne. With the loss, the Spiders fell to 17-4 overall and 7-1 in conference play while the Dukes improved to 11-8 overall and 6-2 in conference play.

Richmond Starters
Budnik, Doogan, Ryan, Hill, Townsend

How it Happened
Grace Townsend began the scoring for the Spiders with a layup before the opposition tied the game at two on the other end of the court. Katie Hill netted a wide-open trey to put the Spiders up 5-2, but a pair of free throws from Duquesne brought the Dukes back within one, 5-4. After exchanging points, Addie Budnik and Laren VanArsdale posted back-to-back buckets for an 11-8 UR lead. After a 5-0 run by DU to take the lead at 13-11, Maggie Doogan recorded a mid-range jump shot to tie the game at 13. Duquesne got one final shot off to end the first quarter up 15-13.

After almost two minutes of no scoring from both teams, Siobhan Ryan netted a triple for a 16-15 UR lead, but the opposition responded with a layup and a triple for a 16-20 DU advantage. Budnik ended the scoring drought with a layup, but DU went on a 10-0 run to take a 30-18 lead. Ryan posted three points off two free throws and a layup to cut the deficit to 30-22 with 2:13 left in the half. The Spiders were only able to put one final point on the board as the team went into the locker room trailing 36-23.

Out of the locker room, Duquesne continued its offensive pressure, posting six points for a 42-23 lead before Katie Hill ended the scoring drought with an and-one play. After a 5-0 spurt from the opposition, Townsend posted a layup for a 47-28 DU lead. The teams then exchanged points on each coast before a triple and a layup from Duquesne pushed the lead to 55-35 in favor of the Dukes. Ryan posted a triple and Townsend followed the play with a layup to cut the deficit to 56-40. Townsend would get one final free throw off to head into the final 10 minutes down 56-41.

Budnik opened the fourth quarter with two back-to-back buckets to bring the Spiders within 11, 56-45. Ullstrom then recorded a layup, but the Dukes immediately responded on the other coast to preserve their lead, 59-47. Later, a triple from Ryan cut the deficit to 66-54, but again a pair of free throws kept DU in the lead, 68-54. Despite five points from efforts by Doogan and Townsend, Duquesne was able to fend off the Spiders and take the game 72-59.

Inside the Box Score

Richmond was led by Ryan, who posted 13 points while two other Spiders, Townsend and Budnik also finished the game in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Townsend led the team in rebounds and assists with seven and five, respectively on the night.
As a team, Richmond shot 21 of 62 (33.9%) from the field, 6 of 28 (21.4%) from deep and 11 of 15 (73.3%) from the charity stripe. In addition, the team posted 29 rebounds, 13 assists, and 19 points off 22 Duquesne turnovers.
Duquesne snapped an eight-game win streak for Richmond, as the team hasn't lost since 12/20/23 against Michigan State in the Cherokee Invitational.

From Head Coach Aaron Roussell
"Hats off to Duquesne, I thought they were outstanding tonight. They were prepared and played with great fire."

"We just didn't have it tonight; we didn't convert very well around the rim and we obviously were not our usual selves from beyond the arc."

"It's disappointing, but this team got to this point because of their grit, work ethic and cohesion. I have no doubt that this will be used as fuel to be much better from here."

Up Next
Richmond continues its road swing on Sunday, as the team takes on defending A-10 Champions Saint Louis at 3 p.m. ET. in Saint Louis, Mo.