Spiders Clinch Program’s First Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Title

Sunday, March 10

Henrico, Va.

4 p.m.

University of Richmond

Rhode Island

Spiders Clinch Program’s First Atlantic 10 Conference Championship Title

03/10/2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

HENRICO, Va. – The No. 1-seeded University of Richmond women's basketball team clinched the program's first Atlantic 10 Conference Championship title on Sunday, downing the No. 6 seed Rhode Island, 65-51. This is the program's first conference title since the 1991 season in the CAA.

Richmond Starters
Budnik, Doogan, Hill, Ryan, Townsend

In-game Highlights
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Women's Basketball Wins 2024 Atlantic 10 Conference Championship

How it Happened
Siobhan Ryan immediately got on the board for the Spiders with a layup before Addie Budnik followed the play with a triple for a 5-0 lead. Rhode Island was able to get a layup off, but Ryan continued the scoring for UR with a layup for a 7-2 lead four minutes in. A jumper from the opposition bought the team within three, but back-to-back buckets from Budnik and Townsend rebuilt the lead to eight, 12-4. Townsend would get a final layup off to give UR a 14-7 lead at the break.

In the second, Hill got the Spiders rolling with a layup, sparking an 8-0 run from efforts by Doogan an Budnik. URI was able to get two buckets off, but Ryan immediately responded with a trey to push the lead to 14, 25-11. The teams then exchanged points throughout the quarter, as UR held a steady lead of 13 points. Townsend and Budnik were able to get two buckets off to go into halftime with the Spiders ahead, 35-19.

Out of the break, the Spiders stormed out to a 9-0 run, building a 25-point lead, 44-19. Two quick points from URI would cut the deficit to 44-22, but Laren VanArsdale got the Spiders back to an offensive rhythm with a layup. After a few more points from the Rams, Doogan was able to net two-straight free throws to rebuild the lead to 21, 48-27. Doogan got the final layup off for Richmond as the team headed into the final 10 minutes with a 50-31 advantage.

Rhode Island was able to scratch back at the Richmond lead, 57-42, throughout the first three minutes of the fourth quarter. After cutting the deficit to 13, 57-44, the Spiders were able to rebuild the lead to 17 from buckets by Budnik and Townsend. Rhode Island was able to find a little offensive rhythm through the closing minutes, but wasn't enough as the Spiders clinched the 2024 A-10 title, 65-51.

Inside the Box Score

The Spiders notched the first A-10 title in program history, and the team's first since the 1991 season in the CAA.
Addie Budnik was named tournament MOP, while she, Doogan and Townsend all were named to the All-Championship team.
As a team, the Spiders shot 26 of 51 (51%) from the floor, 8 of 23 (34.8%) from deep and a perfect 5 of 5 from the free throw line. Doogan paced the team with 18 points while Townsend (13), Budnik (14), and Ryan (14) all finished in double figures.

Up Next
The Spiders clinched the automatic qualifier in the NCAA tournament. The NCAA Selection Show is slated for March 17 at 8 p.m. ET.

ESPN Richmond Broadcast