March 8, 2009

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The University of Dayton women's basketball team could not overcome a second half rally by the Richmond Spiders as the team fell 54-48 in the 2009 Atlantic 10 Championship Semifinal on Sunday afternoon at Halton Arena. Dayton fell to 20-13 overall, while Richmond improved to 23-8. It was Dayton's third-ever appearance in the semifinals of the conference tournament.

Despite leading by 19 points at one point in the game, Dayton could not overcome Richmond's second half rally that included an 18-3 run. The Flyers were also without a field goal for nearly eight minutes during that stretch.

Sophomore Kristin Daugherty led UD with 12 points, while Kendel Ross was strong on the glass finishing with 10 boards. Freshman Justine Raterman also contributed with eight points and nine rebounds

The Flyer out-rebounded the Spiders 47-32, but turnovers were costly for UD as the team committed 19 to Richmond's 10. The Spiders also held a commanding lead in steals 13-5. Brittani Shells led all scorers with 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field. She also led Richmond in rebounds with eight.

Dayton built a small lead behind Casey Nance and Kristin Daugherty to start as the Spiders went scoreless for a little over four minutes.

Richmond would chip away at the lead, but the score would remain knotted at 12-9 for three minutes until Kayla Moses sparked an 18-2 Flyer run after draining a jumper at 12:35.

The Flyers would go without a field goal for the final four minutes of the half, but would take a 14 point lead (34-20) into the locker room.

Daugherty helped put together a 7-0 mini-run in the beginning of the second stanza, however Brittani Shells and Rachael Bilney would drain back-to-back shots for Richmond to move the score 43-27 with 15:13 on the clock.

The Spiders brought the score to within four points on an 18-3 run, 44-40 with 8:37 remaining as the Flyers were without a field goal for eight minutes during that stretch.

Patrice Lalor ended UD's drought with a lay-up, but Shells responded with a trey on the next possession to edge the score 48-43 at 6:19.

Behind Johnna McKnight Richmond would bring it to within two points with three minutes to go. Shells would then tie it up, 48-48, after stealing the ball and connecting on a lay-up. Sloppy ball-handling hindered the Flyers as Richmond stole the ball again to take the lead by two with 1:17 left.

Dayton did not make good on another shot as the Spiders put the game out of reach by scoring free throws down the stretch winning 54-48.