University of Richmond Athletics
Women’s Basketball Ranked No. 36 In Initial NET Rankings
12/01/2025 | Women's Basketball
RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond women's basketball team debuted at No. 36 in the first NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings of the 2025-26 season this week, leading all Atlantic 10 programs and sitting among the top 40 teams nationally after a 6-2 start to the season.
Richmond opened the season with one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the Atlantic 10, highlighted by a road test at No. 4 Texas and a neutral-site matchup with No. 8 TCU at the Cancun Challenge. The Spiders sit at 6-2 with quality wins over Mount St. Mary's, William & Mary, Columbia, Temple, Navy and Green Bay, with their only losses coming to the nationally ranked Longhorns and Horned Frogs.
The NET (NCAA Evaluation Tool) was introduced before the 2018-19 season to replace the RPI as the primary sorting tool for the NCAA tournament selection committee. The metric factors in game results, strength of schedule, game location, scoring margin, net offensive and defensive efficiency and the quality of wins and losses when determining rankings, which are updated daily on the NCAA website.
Through eight games, Richmond is averaging 71.1 points per contest while holding opponents to 62.4 points, outscoring teams by 8.8 points per game. The Spiders are shooting 44.8 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from three and 78.0 percent at the free throw line and knock down 10.5 three pointers per game. Richmond leads the Atlantic 10 in free throw percentage, three-point percentage and three pointers made per game and ranks among the national leaders in each category.
Senior forward Maggie Doogan has powered the Spiders' hot start with a double-double average of 23.4 points and 10.0 rebounds to go with 5.0 assists per game. She has already recorded six 20-point outings in eight contests, highlighted by 28 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in the season-opening win over Mount St. Mary's and a 31-point, 14-rebound, nine-assist performance against Temple. Doogan's scoring average leads the Atlantic 10 and ranks No. 8 nationally.
Richmond's perimeter attack has been equally balanced. Rachel Ullstrom adds 12.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while averaging 2.6 made threes per outing. Ally Sweeney contributes 10.4 points and 3.8 assists per game on 54.4 percent shooting from the floor and 50.0 percent from beyond the arc. Alicia Newell chips in 8.9 points per game and leads the Spiders with 2.4 steals per contest, helping fuel a defense that limits opponents to 37.8 percent shooting and 23.0 percent from three.
Richmond returns to action Wednesday, hosting Loyola Chicago at 6 p.m. for the Atlantic 10 opener inside the Robins Center before welcoming Fairfield to town on Dec. 7 for a matchup with the Stags at 2 p.m. The Spiders will also appear in the 4 Tha Culture Holiday Hoops Classic later this month, taking on Alabama A&M on Dec. 20 and Penn State on Dec. 21 at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Henrico, Va., with tickets on sale now.
