Players in the Atlantic 10 Conference women's basketball tournament wear shooting shoots for warm-ups. The message changes each season. "Our Moment" was written on them last year.
This March: "Nothing Easy."
Designers must have had Saturday's University of Richmond-Saint Joseph's semifinal in mind.
The top-seeded Spiders and fourth-seeded Hawks played for the third time this season. No secrets were there in Richmond's 50-49 loss at the Henrico Sports & Events Center. Each pass and cut went through defensive traffic, and the game with 16 lead changes ended with some uncertainty.
Maggie Doogan's basket gave the Spiders a 49-48 lead with 3.5 seconds left. SJU called time, Hawk Laura Ziegler got the ball in the lane when play resumed and scored with a contested shot just before the horn.
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Or did she?
As the Hawks celebrated, officials reviewed the play and one of them, Ashley Gloss, came out of the huddle to near midcourt and gave a waving sign. The Spiders celebrated, believing the motion meant Ziegler's goal came after time expired and UR won, extended its school-record winning streak to 18 games. But as officials made their ways off the court, it became clear Gloss' sign meant "Game over," the shot beat the horn.
UR (27-6) won both of the regular-season meetings. The Hawks (23-8) move on to Sunday's 4 p.m. championship game and will meet the winner of Saturday's second semifinal, involving second-seeded George Mason and third-seeded Davidson.
Defending champion Richmond, averaging 74 points, led 26-25 at halftime. In the first quarter, the teams combined for 11 baskets and 10 turnovers. Each team finished with 15 turnovers and had six 3s.
The Spiders didn't get their first lead until 13 minutes in, and the UR depth kept it alive and well as starting forward Rachel Ullstrom (15.4 ppg) and Doogan, (A-10 player of year, 6.7 ppg) sat the final few minutes of the second quarter with two fouls each.
PHOTOS: University of Richmond women's basketball vs. Duquesne
John O'Connor (804) 649-6233
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John O'Connor
University of Richmond and Richmond Flying Squirrels Reporter
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