Final Score: University of Richmond- 46, Saint Louis University- 56 What Happened: Richmond stages a nice late-game comeback, but it was too little, too late, as Saint Louis made its free throws and quickly tightened up its defensive effort.
First-half score: University of Richmond- 19, Saint Louis University- 23 Important Stats: UR's Cedrick Lindsay (7 pts), UR shooting 5-24 (20.8 percent), SLU's Jordair Jett (6 pts), SLU shooting 8-19 (42.1 percent), SLU outrebounding UR, 22-11, UR winning turnover battle, 11-3. Analysis: It's very obvious to everyone present for that half why Saint Louis is leading the A-10 in scoring defense.
Richmond football coach, Danny Rocco, said on Wednesday that his 2013 recruiting class exhibited three characteristics: length, speed and versatility. "It's an outstanding class," Rocco said.
The parents of a former Richmond soccer player gave DePauw University $5 million as their son prepared to transfer there after the Richmond soccer program was dropped. Marshall Reavis gave the money to the soccer and lacrosse programs to fund a multipurpose stadium for the men's and women's soccer and lacrosse teams, their son Mitch, who left Richmond during winter break, said.
University of Richmond's head football coach, Danny Rocco, received a contract extension through 2017, Athletic Director Keith Gill announced on Monday.
On Feb. 2, Kendall Gaskins participated in the Texas vs. The Nation Bowl in Allen, Texas, in preparation for the 2013 NFL Draft. Gaskins spent the week leading up to the game partaking in drills, interviewing with scouts of professional teams, signing autographs and practicing with some of the best college seniors in the NCAA.
The University of Richmond women's basketball team lost 72-64 on Sunday Feb 3. to conference opponent the University of Dayton, whose strong defense prevented the Spiders from making inside shots. Dayton pressured the Spiders at the arc, forcing them to drive or look inside.
Richmond made the free throws it wanted to make down the stretch, while Xavier did not. "We make free throws when we need to miss them, and we miss free throws when we need to make them," Xavier coach Chris Mack said. Musketeers freshman Semaj Christon missed two free throws with 50 seconds remaining with his team trailing, 64-62.
Final Score: University of Richmond- 73, Xavier University- 71 What Happened: Timely buckets by Richmond's Greg Robbins and Cedrick Lindsay, along with a few too many missed free throws by Xavier, turned a very hard-fought, close game in the Spiders' favor.
First-half score: University of Richmond- 35, Xavier University- 34 Important Stats: UR's Kendall Anthony (4-5, 11 pts), Alonzo Nelson-Ododa (5 pts, 5 rebounds), XU's Travis Taylor (7-9, 15 pts), XU leading points in the paint, 22-8. Analysis: Richmond made the free throws it wanted to make down the stretch, while Xavier did not. "We make free throws when we need to miss them, and we miss free throws when we need to make them," Xavier coach Chris Mack said. Musketeers freshman Semaj Christon missed two free throws with 50 seconds remaining with his team trailing, 64-62.
In a meet where records were broken and races were won by inches, the University of Richmond women's swim and dive team lost to Villanova Friday. Despite community support, the Spiders fell to the Villanova Wildcats, 162-134.
After missing 28 of their 36 shots in the first half, the University of Richmond women's basketball team came together in the second half to overcome a 16-point deficit and beat the Xavier Musketeers 73-63 in overtime. Led by strong efforts from senior Rachael Bilney, and juniors, Kristina King and Becca Wann, the Spiders closed out the second half on a 20-4 run, sending the game into an extra period. The Spiders' shooting struggles were felt especially by their senior leader, Bilney, who missed every shot she took in the first half, including all five 3-pointers.
When the final buzzer sounded in the Robins Center Thursday night at the Black & Blue Classic, students poured onto the court to celebrate with the Spiders, who had just won the title of best basketball team in Richmond by triumphing 86-74 in overtime over Virginia Commonwealth University. VCU fans had already begun to file out of the stadium with 30 seconds left in the game, reluctantly relinquishing the bragging rights they had earned last year with the Rams' victory on their home court. Throughout the game, Richmond and VCU fans took turns standing and yelling for their teams with volumes seldom heard in the Robins Center. The sold-out arena was a sea of red with significant patches of yellow-clad VCU fans who numbered an estimated 2,000. When the score became tied in the second half, Richmond began a chorus of the traditional cheers, "We are U-R." This was quickly matched by Rams fans chanting, "V-C-U." Darien Brothers saved the Spiders with a three-pointer with just 1.5 seconds left to force the game into overtime.
Contact photographer Nabila Khouri at nabila.khouri@richmond.edu
Senior Darien Brothers wasn't even supposed to take the shot during Richmond's final possession of regulation, he said. His teammates, coach and Spider fans everywhere are sure glad he did, though.
Final Score: University of Richmond- 86, Virginia Commonwealth University- 74 What Happened: Richmond played its best game of the season, and it needed to for this game.
First-half score: University of Richmond- 32, Virginia Commonwealth University- 29 Important Stats: UR's Deion Taylor (7 pts, 4 reb), Alonzo Nelson-Ododa (3-3, 6 pts), UR shooting 52.4%, VCU's Melvin Johson (4-4, 9 pts), Juvonte Reddic (7 pts, 3 reb, 3 fouls) Analysis: Neither team has really been able to get into an offensive rhythm, but that's favoring the Spiders right now.
Storylines: 1) Black and Blue goes Atlantic-10: For the first time since Richmond left the CAA conference following the 2000-01 season, this rivalry game will be played with conference standings on the line.
This season, the tennis teams are out for blood in the Atlantic 10 Championships, senior Alexandra Smyth said. The men's team finished the VCU 4 x 1 with a 4-1 win over James Madison University.
The Spiders raced on the Hokies' track at the Virginia Tech Invitational this weekend, finishing with a four by four women's relay best time in the A-10 and marking the beginning of the men's team's last competitive season at the University of Richmond. "For all of us, this is the most important indoor season of our lives because what we do here and now is how the team will be remembered," sophomore Matthew Groff said. Most of the members of the men's and women's track and field teams run cross-country in the fall, Groff said.
