Strong second half lifts Richmond

The Richmond Spiders reminded themselves of a basic basketball rule at halftime of yesterday's game against William and Mary: A 2-footer is far less challenging than a 20-footer.

Richmond, frustrated in the early going by W&M's fast-flowing matchup zone defense, traded long-range jumpers for slashing drives to the basket in the second half. The results were immediate and impressive. The Spiders (8-0) rallied from a five-point deficit at the break to hang a 63-47 defeat on their I-64 rivals. UR shot 24.1 percent in the first half, 57.1 in the second.

"We did a lot of talking at halftime," said Spiders guard Johanna McKnight. "We got on each other pretty good about the way we were playing. What you saw in the first half wasn't us. We said, 'We can do better.' We said, 'Let's focus and dig deep and find a way to gut this one out.'"

The change in offensive philosophy, McKnight said, was a no-brainer.

"You take what's available. Our legs weren't there [in the first half], so we had to find other ways to score."

McKnight and fellow guard Brittani Shells did much of the finding. The two combined for 32 points in the second half after scoring two apiece in the first. Shells led the Spiders with 20 points. McKnight finished with 16.

UR's offensive struggles - 18 first-half points on 7-of-29 shooting - did not extend to the defensive end of the floor. Richmond, aggressive and very quick on the perimeter, pestered William and Mary into 25 turnovers and 28.3 percent shooting. The Spiders finished with 18 steals. They have 97 steals in eight games - 17 more than they had in 31 games a year ago.

Freshman forward Samantha Bilney said her club's defensive mindset is a function not only of depth and abundant athleticism, but also of "heart and chemistry and passion. When you're a true team - and we are - you want to play as hard as you possibly can for each other."

Guard Kelly Heath led William and Mary (5-3) with 13 points. W&M trailed by only two points with 10:04 remaining but scored only two points the next 4:50.

WILLIAM AND MARY (5-3)

Benson 9, Portell 6, Kell 7, Moller 0, Oblinger 3, Pye 6, Heath 13, Gland 0, Aldridge 0, Aadland 3. Totals: 17 6-10 47. 3-point goals: Heath 2, Portell 2, Kell, Oblinger, Aadland.
RICHMOND (8-0)

S. Bilney 5, Thomas 11, Goring 3, Shells 20, Bell 4, Oliver 2, R. Bilney 0, McKnight 16, Kretchman 2, Zygaite 0. Totals: 23 15-18 63. 3-point goals: McKnight 2.

Halftime: William and Mary 23-18

A: 443