Richmond (4-0) looks for fifth win when it faces Florida Gulf Coast Friday at 7 p.m. at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Latest:
• Rachael Bilney earned her first-ever A-10 Player of the Week honor with a career 19-point performance against Boston University, including scoring eight straight points in a pivotal span to rally the Spiders past the Terriers, 72-60. Bilney also averaged 16.5 points in a 2-0 week for Richmond, including wins over Boston University and Old Dominion. Bilney followed that performance with 14 points (5-12) in a 78-63 win at ODU. For the week, she shot 46 percent (12-26) from the floor, 58 percent (7-12) from beyond the arc and 100 percent (2-2) at the line. The redshirt-junior guard, who currently leads the Richmond roster with her 14.0 points per game average, also contributed five assists, four rebounds, and four steals during the seven-day stretch. Bilney’s return to the lineup has been nothing short of remarkable, after sitting out the 2010-11 season with a knee injury.
• Richmond scored 15 points in the game’s first two minutes and never looked back as it toppled ODU, 78-63, Sunday afternoon to move to 4-0 on the year, its best start since the 2008-09 season when it won its first eight games.
• Abby Oliver became the 18th Spider in program history to notch 1,000 points in her career when she tallied a season-high 22 points in the win. Oliver went 8-for-16 from the field, including 3-of-5 from long range. Oliver also chipped in with a season-best seven boards and foursteals. It was Oliver’s 47th game in double-figures, third this season and ninth career 20 point or better game.
• The Spiders announced the signing of guard Bria Powell to a National Letter of Intent this week. Powell hails from Virginia Beach, Va. and won two state titles at Princess Anne High School.
• Three Spiders currently score in double figures, with Bilney leading the charge at 14.0 ppg. Oliver follows at 13.8, while Okoro chips in with 11.5 ppg. Bilney is shooting a white-hot 49 percent from the field and a team-leading 55 percent from long range.
The Teams:
• Richmond and Florida Gulf Coast meet for the first time in series history Friday night.
• Richmond Lately: Richmond is off to its best start since the 2008-09 season when it won its first eight games of the season, en route to a 24-10 record and a A-10 championship appearance.
• Richmond has three averaging double figures with Bilney (14.0), Oliver (13.8) and Okoro (11.5). Richmond has outscored opponents by 16.0 ppg this season and is shooting at a 44 percent clip,c ompared to 37 percent by its opponents.
• Bilney was Richmond’s first player this year to garner attention from the league, as she won A-10 Player of the Week for her career performances in the past two games.
• Florida Gulf Coast Lately: The Eagles edged Michigan State, 68-67, in their home opener last weekend. Florida Gulf Coast is 2-1 on the season, with a wins over the Trojans and Florida International. The Eagles dropped their season opener to Seton Hall.
• The Spiders were tabbed to finish eighth in the A-10 standings with Abby Oliver garnering second-team recognition. The Eagles were selected to win the Atlantic Sun conference. Courtney Chihil and Sarah Hansen garnered preseason All Conference recognition.
• Florida Gulf Coast is the first of two straight Atlantic Sun opponents the Spiders face this season. Richmond hosts East Tennessee State Nov. 28. Bothteams share common opponents in ETSU and NC State.
Up Next:
• Richmond returns home to host East Tennessee State Monday at 7 p.m. in the Robins Center.
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