Women’s basketball team adds another W to its record after defeating UMES 69-59

The University of Richmond women’s basketball team defeated the University of Maryland East Shore Hawks in the Spiders’ home web at the E. Claiborne Robins Center Wednesday night, winning 69-59.

In the first quarter, the Spiders put up a third of their total score with 23 points. The Spiders started off strong with a layup by sophomore forward Addie Budnik and sophomore guard Ryan Siobhan sinking a three from outside the paint. The Hawks responded with a foul, giving Budnik two free throws. She sank them both, leaving the Spiders up 7-0. 

The Hawks responded with six points in a two-minute span, but the Spiders were quick to strike. 

With back-to-back 3-pointers by senior guard Kate Klimkiewicz and sophomore guard Kylee Lewandowski, senior forward Emma Squires went two for two with free throws, and first-year guard Sydney Boone and Klimkiewicz both sank another round of threes, leaving UR leading in the first quarter 23-15. 

UR put up a strong offense in the second quarter with Budnik scoring two layups, Squires going two for two in frees, and senior guard Claire Holt sinking a three, leaving the Spiders to hold their lead 32-22.

In the third quarter, the Spiders were sinking threes left and right.

“Some of the open threes that we dinged in early were great and were huge to get us off to the start,” Spiders Head Coach Aaron Roussell said during the post game press conference. 

Klimkiewicz struck the Hawks with another 3-pointer, marking her third three of the game. Budnik followed up less than a minute later with a three of her own and not even two minutes later Lewdandoski followed with a three, as well. 

With 5:34 left, Budnik scored a layup and another with 1:34 on the clock. With another Hawk foul, sophomore guard Grace Townsend stepped up and went two for two with her free throws. The quarter ended with the Spiders in the lead once again, but the Hawks were close behind, doubling their points, with a score 47-44. 

In the final quarter, Richmond scored 22 points to shut out the Hawks.

The Spiders began their strike with a layup by Budnik assisted by first-year forward Cayla Williams. Klimkiewicz shot for a three, missed and rebounded her own shot to shoot again, swishing a 3-pointer, marking her fourth three of the game. Budnik made her way to the paint with 6:58 on the clock and added another layup to her belt and Townsend followed with a fastbreak and a jumper. 

With a Hawk foul on the Spiders, the third for the game, Williams went one for two and senior guard Aniyah Carpenter followed with a three of her own.

In the last 40 seconds, Townsend, Budnik and Boone added a combined nine points from free throws, securing the win for the Spiders 69-59. 

“We expended a lot of energy just being a great team,” Roussell said. “We’re making really good strides as a program.” 

The Spiders are set to play again on Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. against the University of Ohio Bobcats at the Convocation Center in Athens, Ohio. 

Contact sports writer Andrew Carodunel at andrew.cardounel@richmond.edu.