Spiders Conclude Historic Season in NCAA First Round Versus No. 7 Duke

Friday, March 22

Columbus, Ohio

2:30 p.m. ET

University of Richmond

29-6,16-2Atlantic 10

Duke

21-11,11-7ACC

Richmond

Duke

Spiders Conclude Historic Season in NCAA First Round Versus No. 7 Duke

03/22/2024 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite a combined 35 points from Grace Townsend and Addie Budnik, the No. 10-seeded University of Richmond women's basketball team ended its historic 2023-24 campaign at the hands of No. 7 Duke in the NCAA Tournament First Round Friday afternoon in Columbus, Ohio. The Spiders ended the year at 29-6, while the Blue Devils move on to the second round and face Ohio State on Sunday.

Richmond Starters
Budnik, Doogan, Ryan, Hill, Townsend

How it Happened
After a quick jumper from the Blue Devils, Budnik netted her first triple of the game to put the Spiders ahead 3-2. Duke was able to go on a short 6-0 run to retake the lead at 8-3, but Maggie Doogan was able to keep the Spiders afloat with a trey to cut the deficit to 6-8 in favor of Duke. After DU built a 13-7 lead, the Spiders were able to bounce back and come within two, 13-11 from efforts by Townsend and Katie Hill. Townsend then posted a layup before Siobhan Ryan downed a triple to give UR a 16-15 lead. After the game was tied at 19, Budnik and Townsend combined for four points for a 24-19 lead. Ryan was able to get one more layup off for the Spiders as UR ended the first quarter with a 26-23 advantage.

Doogan opened the second quarter with a layup for a 28-23 Spider lead. After a pair of free throws from the opposition, Doogan and Budnik posted back-to-back triples to give Richmond a 34-25 lead with 4:09 left in the quarter. One last three pointer for Doogan would send the Spiders into the locker room ahead 37-28.

Out of the break, the Blue Devils stormed to tie the game at 37, posting nine-straight points. Townsend was able to keep Richmond ahead with a layup, but Duke was then able to build a 51-45 lead. Townsend rounded out the third quarter with a layup, sending the Spiders into the final 10 minutes down 51-47.

Duke continued to apply pressure on the Spider defense in the fourth, building a 14-point lead, before Doogan posted a triple to bring UR back within four. Two free throws and a layup from Budnik would end the game with Duke on top, 72-61.

Inside the Box Score

The Spiders were led by Townsend, who posted a team-high 18 points, while Budnik posted 17. Doogan also finished the game in double figures with 15 points on the afternoon.
Doogan paced the team with seven rebounds while Townsend recorded eight assists.
As a team, Richmond shot 24 of 50 (48%) from the field, 10 of 18 (55.6%) from three and 3 of 4 from the free throw line. In addition, the Spiders posted 22 boards, 15 assists and three blocks.
Richmond posted its fourth appearance in the NCAA tournament after notching the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season crown and the 2024 A-10 tournament title in addition to going undefeated at home. UR finished the season 29-6 overall, 16-2 in A-10 action, 14-0 at home, 9-4 on the road and 6-2 on neutral courts.