Women's basketball beats UNC-Wilmington 64-49

The University of Richmond women's basketball team (4-5) beat University of North Carolina-Wilmington (1-8) Saturday with a final score of 64-49. The UNC-Wilmington Seahawks never got ahead of the Spiders, and shot 30 percent from the field compared to the Spiders' 49 percent.

Genevieve Okoro led the Spiders with 18 points and six rebounds; however, Janelle Hubbard, Dazia Hall and Lauren Tolson contributed 20 points coming off the bench.

"We prepared well in the previous practices and we came together as a team and our chemistry was really good and it helped us get the win today," said Hubbard.

Hubbard, only a freshman, came off the bench and scored 10 points for the Spiders. The Spiders held the Seahawks' leading scorer, Kelva Atkins, to 10 points; her average this year is 19 points per game.

Richmond came out intense and went up 7-0 before the Seahawks came back to tie it up. The game was close before the Spiders went up by seven at the end of the half, and Olivia Healy brought the lead up to 12 in the beginning of the second half. Head coach Michael Shafer was pleased with his team's effort.

"I thought really our basketball team kind of impressed me, beacause all of them played well," Shafer said.

Shafer commented on the good play from Okoro, Keri Soppe, Healy, Hubbard and Hall. Shafer was also impressed with the team's ability to forget its mistakes and retain confidence throughout the game.

The Spiders play College of Charleston on Saturday, Dec. 14 before traveling to California to face Long Beach State and the winner of the Florida State-Pacific game.

Contact reporter Will Oldham at will.oldham@richmond.edu