Women's basketball defeats La Salle on Senior Day

The women’s basketball team celebrated their seniors with a 67-61 win over La Salle at home. Senior guards Kailyn Fee and Alex Parson were recognized during a pre-game ceremony featuring video recordings of their parents giving their best wishes and praises.

After a non-scoring minute and half in the first quarter for both teams, the Spiders went on a 6-0 run with a three-pointer by Fee and a second three by junior guard Kate Klimkiewicz. LaSalle sophomore guard Claire Jacobs put six on the board, towards her eight points scored in the first quarter. 

Sophomore forward Elaina Chapman ties the game at 10-10 with 3:19 left in the first quarter with a jumper. La Salle quickly reacts with a jumper by LaSalle junior guard Kayla Spruill, but junior forward Emma Squires ties it back up again 12-12 with a short jumper. 

The first half concludes with the Spiders leading 32-23.

The Spider women continue to keep the lead, finishing the third quarter 46-36. Klimkiewicz added five to the board, going 1-1 from the three-point line and 2-3 from the field goal. Junior guard Claire Holt scores her first two from the field goal and first-year forward Addie Budnik adds four more to her two in the first half. After a missed free throw attempt from Jacobs, junior guard Aniyah Carpenter rebounds and Parson secures an easy shot from the field goal with 1:48 left in the third quarter. 

In the final quarter of the senior day game, Parsons assists Budnik for a good layup early on, and the Spider’s tight defense and dominant rebounding holds La Salle unscored for the first four and a half minutes of the fourth. The Spiders added four, two from Parson and two from Budnik while the Cavaliers were stuck at 36 points. After two good free throws by La Salle senior guard Kate Hill, the Spiders lead 50-38 with 4:32 left in the game. 

Holt’s attempted three-pointer was put back up by teammate Chapman for two, but the Cavaliers responded with a three-pointer by LaSalle junior guard Molly Masciantonio. Budnik answered with a layup, assisted by Klimkiewicz. Chapman goes for two with 2:33 left in the game, the score is 56-45 Spiders. A three-pointer by Masciantonio causes the Spiders to call a timeout, the score 56-48 with just 2:05 left in the game. 

Richmond turns the ball over at 2:04, allowing the Cavaliers to gain two from free throws by LaSalle first-year forward Kayla Richardson, after being fouled by Squires. After a three-pointer by Parsons, the Cavaliers responded with a three-pointer by LaSalle senior guard Deja King. Parsons finds Budnik down low to put two up with 33 seconds left, the Spider’s leading by five. Despite the Cavaliers scoring 25 points in the fourth, the Spiders were able to secure the win 67-61. 

The Spiders are on the road for their next game on Friday, Feb. 26, at Rhode Island. Tune in to ESPN+ to watch. 

Contact sports editor Grace Mittl at grace.mittl@richmond.edu.