March 5, 2010

CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET

2009 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship

Game 1 - #8 Richmond 54, #9 Massachusetts 47

Box Score |  Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview - Richmond

Upper Marlboro, Md. - Richmond withstood a late UMass rally to hold on for a 54-47 victory Friday afternoon in the opening game of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md. The Spiders face top-seed and fifth-ranked Xavier tomorrow at noon in the quarterfinal round.

Although trailing 24-23 at the break, the Spiders closed the first half on a 14-6 run and continued their hot streak to start the second frame.

The Minutewomen used a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 46-44 with just under five minutes to play, but timely offensive rebounds by Richmond senior Crystal Goring and solid free throw shooting helped the Spiders hang on.

A-10 Sixth Player of the Year Abby Oliver scored a game-high 16 points, off 5-for-12 shooting. Oliver has now posted nine double-figure performances the past 10 games, and has led Spider scoring in five of the last eight games.

The Spiders will face top-seeded and fifth-ranked Xavier in the first quarterfinal game tomorrow at noon.

Game 2 - #5 Saint Joseph's 76, #12 Fordham 62

Box Score |  Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview - Saint Joseph's

Upper Marlboro, Md. - Four players scored in double-figures, led by senior Ashley Logue's 17 points, to help fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's to a 76-62 win over the 12-seeded Fordham Rams in Atlantic 10 First Round action at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, Md.

The Hawks led by only three points at the half, 31-28, but used a 10-1 run in the middle of the second to pull ahead for the comfortable lead.

Sophomore Katie Kuester (12), senior Brittany Ford (12) and sophomore Michelle Baker (10) joined Logue in double figures.

The Hawks will face fourth-seeded Charlotte at 2:30 in the second quarterfinal match-up tomorrow afternoon.

Game 3 #7 St. Bonaventure 71, #10 Saint Louis 59

Box Score |  Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview - St. Bonaventure

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. - In a game that featured 16 lead changes and eight ties, three Bonnies led the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team to a 71-59 victory against a tough Saint Louis squad in the opening round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at Show Place Arena.

Sophomore Megan Van Tatenhove paced the Bonnies scoring 16 of her 18 points in the second half. The 6-foot-1 forward went 5-for-10 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the line and grabbed seven rebounds, all of which were offensive.

St. Bonaventure will face second-seeded Dayton in the quarterfinals at 5:30 pm tomorrow.

Game 4 - #6 Duquesne 61, #11 George Washington 58 OT

Box Score |  Photo Gallery | Postgame Interview - Duquesne | Postgame Interview - George Washington

UPPER MARLBORO, Md.The No. 11 seed George Washington women's basketball team nearly pulled off the only upset of the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship First Round, but No. 6 seed Duquesne escaped The Show Place Arena with a 61-58 overtime victory Friday night. It marks the second straight season GW's season ends with an overtime loss.

Duquesne's Carly Vendemia made two free throws with five seconds left for a 61-58 edge and Myers failed to get a shot off as the Colonials bowed out of the A-10 first round for the second straight season.

Keri Pryor netted 14 points to pace Duquesne (20-11), which advances to Saturday's quarterfinal against No. 3 seed Temple at 8:00 pm. Alex Gensler and Vanessa Abel contributed 11 apiece, followed by nine from Samantha Pollino and eight from Vendemia.