NEW YORK (Interstat) — Behind a dominant third-quarter surge and a perfect night at the free-throw line, the Richmond Spiders defeated the Columbia Lions 77-67 in a non-conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Levien Gymnasium.

The Spiders improved to 3-1 overall, while the Lions, who were projected favorites by advanced metrics, fell to 2-1.

Richmond seized control of the game with a 23-point third quarter, turning a narrow 32-25 halftime lead into a 55-44 advantage heading into the final period. The Spiders’ offense was efficient throughout, scoring 77 points on 70 possessions for an offensive rating of 109.8, while Columbia managed just 67 points on the same number of possessions for a 95.5 rating.

The Spiders’ success was built on superior outside shooting and flawless free-throw execution. Richmond shot 12 for 26 from three-point range, a 46.2 percent clip, and were a perfect 15 for 15 from the charity stripe. In contrast, Columbia struggled from deep, making only 5 of 24 attempts, and connected on just 8 of 15 free throws.

Maggie Doogan, a 6-foot-2 forward from Broomall, Pennsylvania, led the Spiders with a stat line of 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 38 minutes. She was one of three Richmond players to score 16 points, joined by Alicia Newell and Rachel Ullstrom. Point guard Ally Sweeney of Sparta, New Jersey, orchestrated the offense with nine assists and added 15 points.

Columbia was led by Susie Rafiu, a 6-1 forward from Ipswich, England, who recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Riley Weiss scored 16 points and Perri Page added 15 for the Lions, who held a significant 18-8 advantage in offensive rebounds but could not overcome their shooting woes.

The game was a back-and-forth affair in the early stages. Columbia held a 13-10 lead after the first quarter, but Richmond responded with a 22-point second quarter to take a seven-point lead into halftime. The Spiders then broke the game open in the third period, outscoring the Lions by 11 points to build a comfortable cushion they would maintain for the remainder of the contest.

Richmond’s defense was also active, recording nine steals and five blocks, though they committed 17 turnovers compared to Columbia’s 13. The Lions scored 38 points in the paint to Richmond’s 26, but the Spiders’ three-point barrage and perfect free-throw shooting proved to be the decisive factors.

The announced attendance was 1,542.

Richmond will look to continue its momentum when it hosts Temple on Tuesday. Columbia will aim to rebound when it faces Saint Joseph’s on Thursday.