GLEN ALLEN, Va. (Interstat) — The Richmond Spiders used a blistering start from beyond the arc and a balanced scoring attack to pull away from the Alabama A&M Bulldogs for a 72-58 victory in non-conference women’s basketball action Saturday at the Henrico Sports and Events Center.

The Spiders, improving to 10-3, established control early with a potent three-point shooting display, connecting on 14 of 39 attempts for the game. This long-range efficiency proved the decisive factor against a Bulldogs squad that struggled to find its own outside shot, making just 4 of 16 from deep. Richmond’s offensive rating of 112.9 points per 100 possessions starkly outpaced Alabama A&M’s 94.6, underscoring a more effective and fluid offensive performance.

The game’s most critical phase came in the opening quarter, where Richmond built a lead Alabama A&M could never fully erase. The Spiders raced out to a 21-7 advantage after the first period, fueled by a trio of three-pointers. Rachel Ullstrom, who finished with a game-high 20 points, set the tone with two early threes, while Ava Persichetti and Alicia Newell also connected from deep. This initial burst forced the Bulldogs into a persistent game of catch-up, a task made difficult by Richmond’s persistent outside threat and defensive activity.

Alabama A&M, which fell to 4-8, showed resilience in the second quarter, outscoring Richmond 20-20 to trim the deficit to 41-27 at halftime. The Bulldogs continued to battle in the paint, where they held a 34-24 advantage, led by the interior work of Maori Davenport and Jaida Belton. A 7-0 run early in the fourth quarter, capped by a Rakiyah Beal three-pointer, brought Alabama A&M within six points at 61-55 with 7:57 remaining, marking the closest margin since the opening minutes.

However, Richmond responded with immediate composure. On the ensuing possession, Maggie Doogan answered with a driving layup to halt the run. After a defensive stop, the Spiders worked the ball to Doogan again, who was fouled on a made layup and converted the free throw, pushing the lead back to 64-55. Alabama A&M would get no closer than seven points the rest of the way, as Richmond closed the game on an 11-3 run to secure the double-digit victory.

Doogan, Richmond’s top star, filled the stat sheet with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists, orchestrating the offense despite committing five turnovers. Ullstrom’s 20-point effort was bolstered by six rebounds and three assists. Persichetti provided a key spark off the bench with nine points, all from three-point range, while Sam Dewey contributed eight points and seven rebounds.

For Alabama A&M, Beal led the scoring with 16 points, including two three-pointers. Davenport neared a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes. Point guard Kaila Walker logged 37 minutes and finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists, but was hampered by 5-of-15 shooting from the field. The Bulldogs were efficient inside the arc, shooting 25 of 53 overall, but were undone by the three-point disparity and Richmond’s 12-5 edge in offensive rebounds, which led to 12 second-chance points.

Defensively, Richmond’s length and positioning resulted in five steals and three blocks, with Tierra Simon recording two rejections. Alabama A&M was more active in passing lanes, registering eight steals, but committed 10 turnovers against only eight assists, highlighting offensive struggles against the Spiders’ set defense.

The win extends Richmond’s strong start to the season as they now turn their attention to a quick turnaround, hosting Penn State on Sunday. Alabama A&M concludes its non-conference slate and will open Southwestern Athletic Conference play on the road at Mississippi Valley State on Jan. 1.