Spiders’ Web Spins Women’s Basketball into 20 Turnovers in 69-46 Loss

Loyola women’s basketball faced the first Atlantic 10 (A10) test of the season against the preseason conference favorite, the University of Richmond. The Spiders had the Ramblers caught in their web all game, leading to a 69-46 Loyola loss. 

First-year guard and forward Alex-Anne Bessette was Loyola’s sole double-digit scorer with 15 points while Richmond fourth-year forward Maggie Doogan added 20 points.

The Ramblers and Spiders found themselves evenly matched to start the game, with turnovers and missed threes making up the first two minutes. Richmond’s fourth-year guard Rachel Ullstrom nailed a 3-pointer to give the Spiders a lead they never lost.

Bessette finished a layup inside to cut the lead to one before being countered by Ullstrom on the next possession. Ullstrom’s strong start continued with another layup, followed by a lay-in from graduate forward Tierra Simon. 

Turnovers continued to plague Loyola as Doogan made a 3-pointer to put Richmond up 12-2. Loyola broke the 9-0 run with a jumper from second-year guard Alexa Kinas which Doogan met with one of her own. Kinas’ bucket with two minutes to go was the last of the quarter for Loyola, as a 3-pointer by Richmond’s second-year guard Alicia Newell hit a three at the buzzer to put the Spiders up 17-4 after one.

Redshirt third-year forward Clara Djoko opened the second quarter with a quick layup, met by one from Simon. Two and a half minutes of scoreless play ensued with both teams struggling to hold the ball. Ullstrom and second-year forward Brooklyn Vaughn hit consecutive layups to make it 21-8.

Another two minute cold snap hit the court until Kinas hit a layup for Loyola’s last bucket with just over three and a half minutes left in the half. Newell came back for Richmond with a layup of her own and finished the and-one after being fouled by Kinas.

The Spiders caught fire with three 3-pointers from Ullstrom and a layup from third-year guard Ally Sweeney to end the half on a 14-0 run and up 35-10 over Loyola.

Bessette opened the second half with a deep three, met by a Doogan layup. Doogan and Newell connected on back-to-back layups before two straight scoreless minutes hit both sides. Doogan knocked down a three before Bessette ended the Ramblers’ scoring drought with a layup.

Bessette continued to carry the Rambler offense with another three before Ullstrom was fouled, sinking one at the line. Third-year guard Rosalie Mercille hit a layup that was countered by a layup from Richmond’s fourth-year forward Sam Dewey.

Kinas finished in the paint before Vaughn sent Newell to the line, where she sank one. After Mercille missed a three with a second left on the quarter, Kinas was fouled after grabbing the offensive rebound, sinking both at the charity stripe to end the quarter down 48-24.

Richmond opened the fourth with a one-for-two trip at the line from first-year guard Rayne Wright, followed by a layup from second-year guard Payton Richard extending it to a 51-24 Spider lead.

Bessette and Vaughn banked in layups which were offset by a 3-pointer from first-year guard Ava Persichetti. Third-year guard Audrey Deptula knocked down a three, followed by a layup from fourth-year guard Kira Chivers, cutting it to 54-33.

Doogan came back with a three for Richmond, met by a layup from Vaughn and followed by another three for the Spiders courtesy of Persichetti. Bessette connected on her third three of the night before Doogan made another three of her own. 

First-year guard Daniella Matus hit a three as Doogan continued to pour it on with a layup. Chivers made one at the line and second-year forward Roisin Grandberry added a layup. Matus added another point at the line before Richmond ended the short run with a Newell lay-in.

Dewey followed with another Richmond layup for their final points of the game, and Chivers’ one final foul shot ended the game in a 69-46 Loyola loss.

Head coach Allison Guth said despite the quality of this Richmond team, she expects more from the team.

“We knew this would be a tough test, but our first-half effort put us in a hole we couldn’t climb out of,” Guth said. “We didn’t execute offensively, turned it over 20 times, shot 38 percent at the line and were out-rebounded 41–28 — that’s a pride issue.”

The Ramblers retake the court at home Sunday, Dec. 7 against Western Michigan University at 1 p.m., where they’ll look to bounce back against the Broncos. Streaming will be available on ESPN+.