The University of Richmond women’s basketball team secured a 59-46 victory over Davidson College on Feb. 26, matching the longest win streak in program history.
Although Richmond had already clinched the title of regular season champions with its win over Virginia Commonwealth University, there was still a lot riding on this game. The Spiders tallied their 15th win in a row with this victory, tying the record previously set during the 1989-90 season. Head Coach Aaron Roussell wasn’t focused on the streak, but instead on his seniors, who were playing their final home game.
“You know, it’s one of those things that dawns on you after,” Roussell said postgame. “Admittedly, what I was thinking about, results-wise, was making sure these seniors have a positive memory on their way out.”
The seniors were honored a few games ago on senior night, but this game marked another significant day for them. Graduate guard Addie Budnik, who has spent her entire college career at Richmond, played her final game in Robins Center. After the game, a crowd gathered to take photos and have posters signed by the standout player.
“I think I woke up this morning and it just kind of hit me,” Budnik said in a postgame interview. “I’ve been playing in this gym for five years, so it’s definitely bittersweet.”
The Spiders faced the Wildcats for the second time this season after a 63-41 win on Jan. 12. Despite the loss, Davidson had been on a seven-game win streak leading into this matchup.
“We knew they were coming in hot,” said graduate guard Faith Alston. “They were gonna give us their best shot. We kind of had to roll with it, which I think we did.”
Sophomore guard Ally Sweeney scored the first basket of the game with a layup in the paint. Richmond would maintain the lead for the remainder of the game. After a two-minute scoring drought, junior forward Maggie Doogan hit a 3-pointer, pushing the score to 5-0. Davidson quickly answered with a 3-pointer of its own, sparking a back-and-forth that ended with Richmond up 13-5 at the end of the first quarter.
The Spiders worked to extend their lead in the second period, something they had struggled with in recent games. Richmond outscored Davidson 12-7 in the first half of the period. The Spiders took a 17-point lead with two minutes remaining in the half before Davidson closed with a 5-0 run, cutting the margin to 32-20 at the break.
The second half began with Davidson on a 7-0 run in the first 1:30, cutting Richmond’s lead. The Spiders tried to respond with a 3-pointer, but missed three straight attempts from beyond the arc. Budnik ended the scoring drought with back-to-back 3-pointers midway through the period.
Davidson continued to close the gap, outscoring Richmond 8-4. The third quarter marked the Wildcats’ best field goal percentage of the game and the Spiders’ worst.
Richmond opened the final period with two free throws from Doogan, but Davidson responded with a 6-0 run, narrowing the margin to 46-43. The Spiders answered with a layup, but Davidson countered with a 3-pointer, pulling within two points of Richmond. Energized by the close score, the Spiders finished strong with an 11-0 run to close out the game. Alston sealed the victory with a clutch 3-pointer in the final seconds, making the final score 59-46.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
“It felt good to close out the game,” Alston said. “I’ve only been here for a year, but having my last game here in Robins Center and hitting that big shot at the end was exciting.”
Next up for Richmond is a matchup with Saint Joseph’s University, a familiar opponent. The two teams met less than two weeks ago on Feb. 13, with Richmond winning 59-51. The Hawks gave the Spiders a tough challenge, leading after the first period and nearly pulling off an upset in the third quarter. With the Atlantic 10 Championship on the line, Saint Joseph’s will be looking to knock off the top-seeded Spiders.
“We’ve gotta get our bodies healed because it’s been a three-game week,” Roussell said. “We’ve beaten them the last few times, but they’re gonna come at us.”
The Spiders will face Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia on March 2 at 2 p.m.
Contact sports editor Abigail Finnney at abigail.finney@richmond.edu
Support independent student media
You can make a tax-deductible donation by clicking the button below, which takes you to our secure PayPal account. The page is set up to receive contributions in whatever amount you designate. We look forward to using the money we raise to further our mission of providing honest and accurate information to students, faculty, staff, alumni and others in the general public.
Donate Now
