Spiders wrap up remarkable season in NCAA first round against No. 7 Duke.
In Columbus, Ohio, despite Grace Townsend and Addie Budnik combining for 35 points, the No. 10-seeded University of Richmond women’s basketball team concluded its remarkable 2023-24 season, falling to No. 7 Duke in the NCAA Tournament First Round. The Spiders, finishing the year at 29-6, couldn’t overcome Duke, who advances to the second round to face Ohio State on Sunday.
Richmond’s starting lineup included Budnik, Doogan, Ryan, Hill, and Townsend. The game unfolded with Budnik hitting a three-pointer early on, momentarily giving the Spiders a lead. However, Duke responded with a run to regain control. Despite efforts from Doogan, Townsend, and Hill, Richmond found themselves trailing. Heading into the second quarter, the Spiders maintained a slim lead at 26-23.
The second quarter saw Richmond extending its lead behind Doogan and Budnik’s scoring, heading into halftime with a 37-28 advantage. However, Duke rallied in the third quarter, erasing the deficit and taking a lead. Despite Townsend’s contributions, Richmond entered the final quarter trailing 51-47.
In the fourth quarter, Duke continued to exert pressure, stretching their lead to 14 points. Although Doogan’s three-pointer momentarily narrowed the gap, Duke secured the victory with a final score of 72-61, ending Richmond’s tournament run.
Summary of the Statistics:
Townsend led the Spiders with 18 points, followed by Budnik with 17 and Doogan with 15. Doogan also grabbed seven rebounds, while Townsend dished out eight assists.
Richmond had a strong shooting performance, making 48% from the field, 55.6% from three-point range, and 75% from the free-throw line. They recorded 22 rebounds, 15 assists, and three blocks as a team.
Additionally, Richmond secured its fourth NCAA tournament appearance after winning the Atlantic 10 Conference regular season and tournament titles, finishing the season with a 29-6 record overall, including a perfect home record and solid performances on the road and neutral courts.
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