Richmond hosts Liberty Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with the men’s team.
The Latest:
• Richmond used a pivotal first-half run to silence N.C. State, 72-58, Thursday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
• The Spiders served the Wolfpack their first home loss of the season.N.C. State was previously 5-0 at home. Richmond improved to 8-2 on the season while N.C. State fell to 6-3. Richmond won its second straight over the Wolfpack and improved to 2-1 all-time in the series. The Spiders moved to 1-1 against ACC foes this season.
• The win also improved Richmond to 5-1 in road games this season. The Spiders next away contests are at the Lehigh Christmas Classic Dec. 28 and Dec 29.
• Keri Soppe turned in a gutsy performance, scoring a career-high 12 points, dishing seven assists and pulling down six rebounds. Abby Oliver scored 15 second-half points en route to herteam-high 17 tallies in the win. Genevieve Okoro nearly had a double-doublewith nine points and nine boards. Becca Wann added nine points in 12 minutes, while Kristina King added seven.
• Richmond shot 51 percent from the field (29-of-53) and 53 percent from long range (8-for-15). Richmond had 17assists and five blocks. Richmond’s bench outscored N.C. State, 25-10.
• Richmond leads all Division I schools with a 83 percent mark from the foul line. Abby Oliver, Rachael Bilney and Genevieve Okoro are shooting 86 percent or better from the line.
• Tuesday’s game marks the first of two doubleheaders the women’s team has with the Richmond men’s basketball team. The men host ODU at 7 p.m. The second doubleheader of the season commences Jan. 21. The Spiders will host La Salle, while the men welcome UMass.
• Richmond has three players averaging double figures in Oliver (16.0 ppg), Okoro (11.8 ppg) and RachaelBilney (11.1 ppg).
• Two-sport athlete Becca Wann was named to the NSCAA/NCAA Division I All-American first team. It was the second time in program history a Spider had earned the honor, the first time for asophomore.
The Teams:
• Richmond owns a 19-3 edge in the series with the Flames, but Liberty took the last contest between the two schools, 45-38, Jan. 5, 2008 in Lynchburg. Head coach Michael Shafer is 0-1against the Flames.
• Richmond has won nine of the last 10 meetings and Liberty recorded its only win at the Robins Center Dec. 4, 1999 when it defeated the Spiders, 94-75.
• SERIES’ LAST MEETING: Richmond fell to Liberty 45-38 Jan. 5, 2008 in the series’ last meeting in Lynchburg, Va.
• Richmond Lately: Richmond is coming off a thrilling 72-58 win over NC State Thursday. Abby Oliver scored 17 points, while Keri Soppe added a career-best 12 tallies. The win improved the Spiders to 8-2 on the season. The win improved the Spiders to 5-1 on the road. Richmond brings a 4-1 home record into Tuesday’s game.The Spiders continue to lead Division I in free-throw percentage (119-144, 83%).
• Liberty Lately: Liberty comes into the contest 5-5 on the season, and most recently recorded a 82-37 win over Virginia Union. Avery Warley had 22 points and 11 rebounds, while three other Flames scored in double figures. Liberty is 3-2 in its last five games and brings a 1-2 road record into the game. The Flames are pulling down 51.1 rebounds a game, outrebounding opponents by 17 boards a game.
Up Next:
• Richmond hosts Hartford Thursday, Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. in its last game before the holiday break.
Leave a Reply