WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Sophomore guard
Janelle Hubbard (Elizabeth Seton H.S./Glenn Dale, Md.) scored 12 of her team-high 16 points in the first half as the University of Richmond (5-4) built an early lead and held off UNCW (2-5) to earn a 77-67 non-conference victory over the Seahawks at Trask Coliseum on Wednesday evening.
After losing four consecutive games, the Spiders earned their second win in a row.
Led by Hubbard, the Spiders made 14 of their first 17 field goal attempts to take a commanding 35-15 lead in the first 11 minutes of the game. Hubbard scored all 12 of her first half points during the run, making five of seven shots from the floor.
But, the Seahawks answered by going on a 22-6 run over the final nine minutes to narrow the margin to 41-37 at the intermission. Sophomore guard
Naqaiyyah Teague (Malcolm X. Shabazz H.S./Newark, N.J.) scored all nine of her points during the run.
The Spiders upped their advantage to 63-50 with 9:03 left in the second half before UNCW put together a 13-5 run over the next six minutes to narrow the gap to 68-63 on a jumper by sophomore guard
Brie Mobley (Winter Haven H.S./Winter Haven, Fla.).
However, Richmond outscored the Seahawks by a 9-4 count in the final three minutes to secure the victory.
One of four Richmond players to score in double figures, Hubbard made 7 of 11 shots from the floor and added four rebounds. Junior guard
Lauren Tolson (Frederick H.S./Frederick, Md.) added 16 points by going 5-for-12 from the field, including a 4-for-9 effort from three-point range, while junior guard
Bria Powell (Princess Anne H.S./Virginia Beach, Va.) came off the bench to make five of nine field goal attempts en route to an 11-point performance.
Mobley led all players with a season-high 20 points after making 9 of 14 shots from the floor. Senior guard
Kelva Atkins (Granville Central H.S./Stem, N.C.) contributed 17 points with five rebounds and four assists for the Seahawks, who were playing their fourth consecutive home game.
The Seahawks will continue their six-game homestand on Friday afternoon when they host East Tennessee State in the first game of the 2014 Seahawks Hampton Inn Christmas Invitational at 11:30 a.m. Meanwhile, Richmond will continue its five-game road trip with a visit to Eastern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon.
