By Kyle Soppe
The Richmond Spiders overcame a slow start to win their fourth consecutive game. Richmond improved to 10-2 without starting point guard Keri Soppe (ankle) in the lineup, by taking care of the ball and feeding off the energy from reserve guard Becca Wann. The Spiders won 69-56, and are peaking as they head to conference play.
Nine lead changes in the first five minutes displayed both teams competitive fire in the early going. Ruthanne Doherty, the Hawks leading scorer at 14.4 points per game, started the scoring with a flawless up and under. But as was the case for every Hartford score, the Spiders had the answer. Gen Okoro took a touch pass from Liz Brown and converted for her trademark lefty lay in. Neither team was willing to give in, and it wasn’t until a Nikkia Smith deep jumper that either team recorded an unanswered basket.
The teams tallest starter continued to impress, stepping behind the arc on the Hawks next trip and splashing home a straight on triple. A nifty drive by junior Alex Hall, and Hartford seemed to harness the momentum. Their defense clamped down on the Richmond high scoring attack, and continually caused the Spiders to force up errant shots due to the dwindling shot clock. Alyssa Englert, in her first collegiate start, snared a rebound, dribbled to the left elbow, and fired a no look pass to Daphne Elliot. Englert’s play-making ability set up an open trey for Elliot, and in the blink of an eye, the visitors had gained 21-11 lead.
Coach Michael Shafer knows his team, and they were clearly in need of a spark; insert Becca Wann. The ball of energy, who recorded a career high 14 points on Tuesday, once again gave Shafer just what he was looking for. Seconds after entering the contest, Wann denied the passing lane, recovered her own deflection, and raced to the goal for a bucket. Her confidence was obvious, and the gritty product of Cosby High School showed a new found aggression. A pull up jumper in the middle of the lane, a soft floater, and a smooth jump shot, and the Spiders were back in business. Eight points from Wann brought the Spiders to within six.
With the focus now on Wann, Rachel Bilney (11 points per game) was able to find some room to operate. She canned a deep three, and the momentum seemed to be shifting in dramatic fashion. Now, it was Richmond making the hustle plays, and Hartford playing timidly. Bilney faked hard right, drove strong left, and was hacked on her way to the rim. The red shirt junior shrugged off the contact finishing with her left hand for the unconventional three point play. With the led trimmed to three, Richmond was poised to take the lead sooner rather than later.
Simple coaching philosophy: don’t out think yourself. Shafer left Wann in the game, she logged 15 first half minutes (more than she averages per game), and she rewarded his loyalty. She broke down a full court Hawks press with a hail mary reception that she easily put in for two more points. After setting up a Kristina King three point play, Wann’s tenacity was again on display, this time via rebounding. She skied for the rebound and bounced right back up, giving Richmond their first lead since the 14 minute mark. The Spiders took a 34-33 advantage into the locker room, in large part due to their ability to handle the rock. They struggled early with the Hawks aggressive defense with seven turnovers in the first 12 minutes. But regrouped, and only had one give away over the final eight minutes.
Doherty once again started the Hawks scoring, cashing in on Englert’s career high tying fifth dime. The teams traded three point plays on the next two possessions, giving this showdown the feeling of a heavy weight bout that would not be decided until the final minutes.
Richmond’s big three of Oliver, Bilney, and Okoro (combine for 39 of Richmond’s 69 points per game) carried the Spiders by scoring 25 of the teams first 27 points in the second half. As the most gifted athlete on the floor, Okoro converted a put back in which she out muscled three helpless Hawks, and pushed UR to it’s largest lead, 57-48.
Englert’s seventh assist of the afternoon gave Hartford some hope, as an Elliot bomb was again the result of the sophomore’s court vision. But Becca Wann would not let her second consecutive career night go for naught. She attacked the middle of the Hawks defense, and finished just about every open look she had. Back to back floaters from Wann extended the Richmond advantage back to double digits, and put a ribbon on this contest.
“I’m finally getting back into the basketball groove. I’ve got no off switch, so the intensity thing just comes with the territory.” A smiling Wann believes that this Spiders squad is a team to fear due to “our ability to work together and be unselfish”. Her sentiments were echoed by Coach Shafer when asked about A-10 play: “I am incredibly excited about conference play. This team has the best chemistry I’ve ever been a part off”.
Wann finished with a career high 18 points on 8/14 shooting. She tied a personal best with eight rebounds and added five assists to the most complete game of her time at Richmond. In a word, Wann brought “toughness” to the Robins Center today. Okoro poured in 19 points, thanks in large part to her 10 rebounds (6 offensive). Rachel Bilney (14) and Abby Oliver (10) also cleared the double digit plateau, a standard occurrence for the 10-2 Spiders. When the big 3 were all on the court, the Spiders were plus 11, as compared to only a plus two point differential when one of them was out.
The Spiders next take the court on December 29th when they travel to Lehigh for a two day tournament. They open with a game against James Madison at 5:00.
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