Richmond Women's Hoops - Spider Bites and Bits by Joe Cunningham

3/9/2025

All good things come to an end at some time. The lady Spiders lost a tough game 50 to 49 to Saint Joe's in the A10 semifinals. No relation to me and definitely not a Saint. Their pep band must be fans of Elton John as Philadelphia freedom seemed like it was on perpetual replay. Now they await their name called on bracket Sunday. With a 27-6 record and 3 of the losses to Top 25 teams, I'd say they have a decent chance. Go Spiders! 

3/8/2025

The lady Spiders extended their winning streak to 17 with a quarterfinal win over Duquesne in the A10 tournament by a score of 63 to 58. It was touch and go the last 5 minutes with momentum with the underdog. The lobby bartender was happy that business from all the UR fans will continue into the semifinals. They will play 4 seed St. Joseph's who beat Rhode Island in OT.

3/1/2025

16 in a row! School record! This team is en fuego. They finish the regular season with 1  conference loss and defeated the Hawks on the road by 8. If seeds hold, they will face off again in the A10 semifinals. Prediction bracketology has them a 10 seed in the big dance. Best wishes ladies! We will be cheering you on in person next weekend.

2/27/2025

If it was taco Tuesday, it would be win Quince in a row. It was a quiet Thursday home win vs Davidson 59-46 and the beer concessions were open. That's a win win combo. The Spiders are A10 league Champs and 1 seed heading into the tournament next week as defending Champs. I think Ozzy Osborne would approve of keeping ON the rails of a crazy (what's a rides it's been) train. 

2/23/2025

I've joined the fan club and applied 2 temporary Spider tattoos being given away at home games in support of this team. Their 14th straight win with a victory today over VCU 68-55, pretty much locks up a league championship and a 1 seed in the A10 tournament. We will be there cheering them on as the location is a whole mile from my residence. GO SPIDERS!

2/20/2025

Who said Friday the 13th was unlucky? That's the winning streak of the lady Spiders. They beat GW by 10 tonight with a snow storm in Richmond. Moving on and coaches poll has them top 35. 

2/17/2025

I realized today I couldn't be a women's basketball coach. I would've benched all starters as I watched in person. Luckily,  the Spider women notched their 12th straight win beating St. Louis 59-49 after losing 2.75 of 4 quarters to a sub 500 team. Were they hungover from Valentine's Day? Perhaps.  Murphy's Law was the theme today. I've never seen so many missed layups since the halftime game between competing 10 year-olds. Moving on. Phew!

2/9/2025

The Lady Spiders picked up their 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9..10th straight win and 20th overall with a 82-58 road with at Duquesne. They lead the nation in FG percentage and have a half game lead in first place over George Mason and St. Joseph's. 

2/6/2025

Choo! Choo! The Spider train keeps on chugging with their 9th consecutive victory over LaSalle 72-53. They are now 19-5 (10-1) in conference good for 1st place. Guard Rachel Ullstrom has been named to the mid-season watch list amongst 49 other players for national player of the year honors. 

2/2/2025

Richmond women extended their streak to 8 games. Big win over Rhode island who they beat in the A10 final last year. Won by 15 plus points. 

If you're a beer drinker, the suds are holding their own on top. Any thoughts from the Rhode Island Rams getting even from their A10 championship loss to the lady Spiders in 2024 were put to bed 79-56. Always fun, but I will say I'm getting old as us guys had to move seats being surrounded by a very loud under 10 age crowd. The post season is 1 month away and shaping up with a few teams realistically challenging for the title.

1/26/2025

Rollin, Rollin, Rollin is the new theme song adopted by the Lady Spiders and the Blues Brothers are proud. They notched their 7th consecutive victory on the road, beating Dayton 83-72. They are garnishing some national attention leading the nation in 3 point percentage, 2nd in FG percentage and Top 15 in scoring defense. As the assistant coach states " We want them to smell our breath. Make their life's miserable". Still on top at 17-5.

1/24/2025

Lord, I was born a ramblin (wo) man! The Spiders took to the road to face the Lady Ramblers of Loyola Chicago and won 85-45 for their 6th consecutive victory. Once again, they kept an opponent from scoring double digits in a given quarter. They remain in 1st place with a 16-5 record. 

1/20/2025

The cream is now rising to the top. The Lady Spiders started emptying the bench late in the 2nd quarter against cross town rival VCU. Up 29 at the half and winning 75-42, we now have a clear front runner in the A10.  The only question is who is going to step up against them in the A10 tournament. I give them 2 extra Spider legs with the win. 

1/15/2025

The Spiders extended their winning streak to 4 as they trounced the Barend Bonnies 98-60.

Rumor has it the starters were still in church, so they recruited their bus driver, team manager, towel guy….you get the picture.

Interesting fact being the Spiders had a higher shooting percentage from the 3 point line (50%) than inside the arc (42%).

They are now 14-5 and in 1st place in the A10.

Next up is a home game against cross town rival VCU.

1/12/2025

The Spiders were on the road against first place and undefeated Davidson. I guess wildcats truly despise playing in cold weather as the visitors took the game 63-41. Maggie Doogan led the Spiders with 26 points. Hats off to the defense allowing 4 points in the second quarter. 

1/9/2025

No water, no fans, no problem!

With the ongoing water shortage and boil advisory still in effect, no fans were allowed in to watch the game.

The ladies went to work and won in exciting fashion 88-86 making the winning basket with 1.6 seconds left in the game.

Maggie Doogan made the game winner as high scorer and a career high 37 points.

The Spiders are now 12-5 and in 3rd place in the A10 standings.

1/5/2025

It was a WWE smackdown. On Sunday, the ladies took out their frustration from a 2 point loss to Fordham earlier in the week with a convincing 82-52 win over UMass. The defense stepped up keeping the opponent to single digit totals in the 1st and 2nd quarters. I'll give them a 9th spider leg for the victory keeping them in the top 5 in the A10.

12/29/2024

The Richmond Spider Women opened up Atlantic 10 play with a convincing 55-37 victory over Dayton. Their non-conference schedule against a few Top 25 teams seems to have them set up for a successful season. Dayton box score shows they scored 2 points in the 2nd quarter which tells me they thought it was halftime, so the refs gave them the 2 as a good gesture participation trophy.

12/22/2024

The Lady Spiders continue their play against SEC opponents at the West Palm Beach Classic tournament. If it was a shortened game of corn hole, they win 17 to 14, but alas, they play for 40 minutes and lost their 2nd straight game to ranked Tennessee 92 to 67. Rachel Ullstrom was top scorer for the Spiders with 19 points. 

Their second game was against a Top 25 Alabama making for a closer game but getting bit by 7. I've never been a fan of good losses, but these games should help as they start Atlantic 10 play. Maggie Doogan led the Sipders with 15 points. Hopefully they'll be flying high with a home web against Dayton on 12/29. 

12/15/2024

Alright, alright, alright, Matthew McConaughey was not in the house as the Lady Spiders welcomed 6th ranked Texas. Largest crowd of the season showed up for a 1pm Sunday tip off. Rachel Ullstrom lead Richmond with 20 points. The Texas defense forced so many turnovers(24), it made the local bakery jealous. In the end, the Spiders were bitten 65-54 albeit a valiant effort and respectable showing for the Atlantic 10 Conference. 

12/8/2024

The 1 year old Henrico Sports and Events Center welcomed back the A10 Spider defending champions for a 2pm game versus the Columbia Lions out of the Ivy league. Richmond led start to finish and pulled away in the 4th quarter 85 to 76.  The refs called more traveling violations than Interstate 95 on a Thanksgiving Holiday. Next up, back on campus vs a ranked Texas team.