SPORTS

 

RICHMOND, Va. – The Davidson Wildcats bounced back in a big way on Wednesday night, backed by a combined 55 points from Elle Sutphinand Chloe Welch to defeat the Richmond Spiders 77-71 from inside the Robins Center.

The Wildcats, who improved to 13-10 overall and 4-7 in A-10 play with the win, played catch up during the first half before torching the nets at a 52.6 percent clip in the third quarter to pull ahead and earn the victory.

After Richmond drained nine first half 3-pointers, the Wildcats trailed 39-37 at the half and were down by as many as 10 points in the second quarter before storming back in the third, outscoring Richmond 27-14 during the frame.

In the victory, Sutphin scored a career-high 32 points while Welch added 23 points in her third straight double-digit scoring performance. The duo combined for a 20-35 (57.1%) effort from the floor, while senior Sarah Konstans grabbed a game-high and season-high 12 rebounds.

With eight minutes to go in the first half, the Wildcats were looking at their largest deficit of the day, 27-17, before Welch and Sutphin took the ‘Cats on a 7-0 run to pull back within three of the Spiders and begin the comeback. From there, rookie Issy Morgan rattled off a buzzer-beating trey and a pull up jumper to keep it a two-point game at the half, despite the Spiders closing out the frame with three straight 3-pointers.

Welch tipped off the second half with a corner trey of her own, which handed Davidson its first lead since the opening basket, and kick started a 12-2 Wildcat run that extended the lead to 49-41. The ‘Cats built up to a 15-point lead with three minutes to go in the third, after eight more points from Welch and Sutphin and a 3-pointer from Cameron Tabor, but the Spiders put together another seven-point run and hung on 64-53 going into the final quarter of play.

An 11-2 start for the Spiders threatened Davidson’s lead in the fourth, as Richmond came back within two, 66-64, with 7:05 left on the clock. But a clutch step back 3-pointer from Sutphin ignited an eight-point tear that put the ‘Cats back up by six for good and secured the A-10 victory.

Davidson ended the night with 36 points in the paint and won on the glass, 38-23.

Up Next
The Wildcats will continue their road stretch into this weekend, taking on the Saint Louis Billikens on Saturday, February 12 at 8 p.m. EST.