Heading into a season full of high expectations, any basketball team will look to its experienced upperclasswomen for leadership and strong performance on the court. When that team gets off to slow start, the dependency on the veterans to step up only becomes stronger. The Richmond Spiders women’s basketball team entered the 2012-13 season with high expectations, picked to finish second in the Atlantic 10 pre-season polls. However, a pair of tough, hard-fought losses, has the Spiders season off to a difficult start.
In need of strong performances from the team’s veteran supporting cast, one performance stood out this week. The play of junior forward, Genevieve Okoro.
The week started out with another tough loss to a previously undefeated Hartford team (5-1), 59-54. During the game, the Gibbsboro, New Jersey native scored 10 points and provided seven rebounds as the Spiders battled but ultimately came up short on the road.
Richmond then headed to Mexico for the Thanksgiving week to play in the Cancun Challenge. In the first of three games in three nights, the Spiders took on the Minnesota Gophers (6-1). Using a strong second half, Richmond raced past Minnesota for a 58-46 win in the opening round. Okoro scored 12 points and pulled down 17 rebounds.
The next night, Richmond took on Wichita State (2-4) and responded with another gritty performance, winning 49-46. Genevieve once again was a vital key scoring 9 points and 7 rebounds, and Richmond pulled its record even to 3-3.
In the final game of the challenge, Okoro was not available and the Spiders lost another tough battle – this time to Wisconsin-Green Bay, 78-49.
Genevieve Okoro is the Pickin’ Splinters choice for Performance of the Week.
Who is your Performance of the Week?
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