NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a display of disciplined offense and stifling defense, the Richmond Spiders defeated the Columbia Lions 77-67 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Levien Gymnasium.

The Spiders, who led for nearly the entire contest, improved their season record to 3-1, while the Lions suffered their first loss, falling to 2-1.

Richmond seized control of the game with a dominant second quarter, outscoring Columbia 22-12 to turn a narrow three-point lead after the first period into a 32-25 advantage at halftime. The Spiders’ offensive execution was crisp, and their defense forced the Lions into difficult shots throughout the first half.

The third quarter saw Richmond extend its lead further, pouring in 23 points to take a 55-44 margin into the final frame. Despite a late push from Columbia, which outscored Richmond 23-22 in the fourth quarter, the Spiders’ lead proved insurmountable. Richmond’s composure at the free-throw line was a decisive factor, as the team converted all 15 of its attempts from the stripe.

Richmond’s offensive efficiency was the story of the game. The Spiders scored 77 points on 70 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of 109.8. Columbia, by contrast, managed an offensive rating of just 95.5, scoring 67 points on an equal number of possessions. The Spiders’ shooting from beyond the arc was a key differentiator; they connected on 12 of 26 three-point attempts, a 46.2 percent clip, while the Lions struggled, making only 5 of 24 from deep.

Defensively, Richmond was anchored by Maggie Doogan, a 6-foot-2 forward from Broomall, Pennsylvania. Doogan filled the stat sheet with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 38 minutes of action. Her presence in the paint disrupted numerous Columbia scoring opportunities.

The Spiders’ offense featured a balanced scoring attack with three players tallying 16 points. Alongside Doogan, Alicia Newell and Rachel Ullstrom each contributed 16 points. Ullstrom, a 6-1 guard from Auburn, Massachusetts, added five rebounds and two assists, while Newell chipped in five rebounds and a steal.

Point guard Ally Sweeney, a 5-6 sophomore from Sparta, New Jersey, orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out nine assists and scoring 15 points. Tierra Simon, a 6-1 forward from Houston, Texas, provided a strong interior presence with nine points and five rebounds.

For Columbia, the effort was led by a trio of scorers. Riley Weiss, a 5-10 guard from Hewlett, New York, scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds. Perri Page, a 5-11 forward from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, also scored 15 points and collected six rebounds. Susie Rafiu, a 6-1 forward from Ipswich, England, recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, along with three assists.

Despite being out-rebounded on the offensive glass 18-8, Richmond compensated with superior shooting accuracy and ball security in key moments. The Lions did manage to score 38 points in the paint compared to Richmond’s 26, but their inability to connect from long range and their 8-of-15 performance from the free-throw line ultimately cost them.

The game was played before an announced attendance of 1,542. Richmond’s victory defied the pre-game projections from Interstat’s ELO system, which had given Columbia a 66.6 percent probability of winning.

Richmond looks to continue its momentum when it hosts Temple on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Columbia will aim to rebound when it welcomes Saint Joseph’s to Levien Gymnasium on Thursday, Nov. 20.