March 8, 2008

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Freshman Brittani Shells recorded 18 points to lead the Spiders as they fall to top-seed Temple in the quarterfinals at the Atlantic 10 Championships, 70-62. Richmond rallied after losing by as many as 19 in the first half to close the Owls' lead to just one point with just under seven minutes to play. Senior Christina Campion ended her collegiate career at Richmond with 13 points and three assists. Also in double-figures for the Spiders was Atlantic 10 Honorable Mention Johanna McKnight with 10 points and five boards.

After an hour in a half delay, due to court conditions, Temple jumped out to an early lead in the first half holding Richmond to just two points in the first five minutes of play. Sophomore Katie Holzer started the scoring back up for the Spiders sinking a field goal from just in front of the three-point line. Holzer finished the game with four points, making two-of-three field goals.

The Spiders ended the first half of play trailing by 15. The Owls shot 22 free throws in the first half, to Richmond's six. Both teams played physical for a total of 23 fouls in the first twenty minutes of play and 51 total fouls in the game.

"I think our kids did a great job, in the second half especially," head coach Michael Shafer said. "They came out and didn't give up on a game that was very physical from the start."

Richmond came out to play in the second half, slowly chipping away at the Owls' advantage. Within seven minutes of the second half, the Spiders cut Temple's lead from 15 to just five off a three-pointer from sophomore Kara Powell. The Richmond point guard finished the game with six points going two-of-five from the three-point line. Powell also pulled down seven rebounds to share the lead over the Spiders with forward Crystal Goring who also grabbed seven boards.

Redshirt junior Johanna McKnight stepped up her game in the second half to score all of her 10 points. Five of McKnight's points came in the last two in a half minutes of play.

Shells, who made the game-winning jumper to catapult the Spiders over Duquesne just the day before, was held scoreless by the Owls in the last eight minutes of play. The guard ended the game with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists for Richmond.

"Temple is the top seed in the tournament for a reason, they play very hard and are a very good team," Shafer commented. "I also give a lot of credit to our kids, they fought back and played extremely hard in the second half."

The Owls had four players earn double-figures as they move on at the A-10 Championships. Morris led the way with 19 points, Lindsay Kimmel added 12 and both Shanea Cotton and Lady Comfort put up 10 points a piece for Temple.