LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Maggie Doogan scored 24 points to pace Richmond in a 76-61 women’s basketball victory over Liberty on Saturday at Vines Center. The Spiders (8-3) never trailed, building a 36-31 halftime lead and extending it steadily after the break. Richmond’s defense forced 17 turnovers, converting them into transition opportunities. Doogan added seven rebounds and seven assists in 39 minutes. Ify Nwaobi posted a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Lady Flames (6-3). Liberty struggled offensively, shooting 41 percent from the floor. Ally Sweeney contributed 15 points for Richmond, which shot 51.7 percent overall. Attendance was 1,011.

LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Maggie Doogan scored 24 points and Richmond used a dominant defensive performance to pull away from Liberty in the second half for a 76-61 victory in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at Vines Center. The Spiders (8-3) forced 17 turnovers, converting them into 27 points, while committing only nine of their own. That disparity, coupled with a decisive advantage in assists and shooting efficiency, allowed Richmond to steadily build its lead after halftime before an announced crowd of 1,011. Doogan, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Broomall, Pennsylvania, filled the stat sheet, adding seven rebounds, seven assists, a block and a steal in 39 minutes. It was her third consecutive game with at least 20 points, following a 24-point effort in a loss to Fairfield and 20 points in a win over Loyola Chicago. The game’s pivotal stretch came early in the fourth quarter. Leading 50-44 after three periods, Richmond opened the final frame with a 9-2 run to seize full control. Ally Sweeney hit a 3-pointer off a Sam Dewey assist just 20 seconds into the quarter, and after Liberty’s Emmy Stout answered with a layup, Doogan drilled a 3-pointer from the wing. Dewey then stole the ensuing inbounds pass and immediately sank a 3-pointer of her own, pushing the Richmond lead to 59-46 with 7:46 remaining. Liberty (6-3) never recovered, getting no closer than 11 points the rest of the way. The Lady Flames struggled to find consistent offense outside of forward Ify Nwaobi, who posted a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Richmond’s defense held Liberty to an offensive rating of 86.8 points per 100 possessions. Sweeney supported Doogan with 15 points and three assists for Richmond. Ava Persichetti added 10 points, while Dewey and Alicia Newell each chipped in nine. Newell also grabbed six rebounds. For Liberty, Claudia Acin of Girona, Spain, scored nine points with four rebounds and three assists. Stout added eight points and four rebounds. Richmond shot 51.7% from the field (31 of 60) and was efficient inside, scoring 44 points in the paint. Liberty managed just 41% shooting (25 of 61) and connected on only 5 of 16 attempts from 3-point range. The Spiders also shared the ball effectively, recording 11 assists to Liberty’s six. Despite being outrebounded on the offensive glass 12-3, Richmond’s ability to protect the ball and capitalize on Liberty’s mistakes proved far more significant. The Spiders also tallied 11 steals. Liberty kept the game competitive in the first half, trailing 36-31 at intermission. The Lady Flames took an early 9-7 lead following a layup from Nwaobi, but Richmond closed the first quarter on a 10-5 run, capped by a floating jumper from Sweeney at the buzzer, to lead 17-14. The Spiders gradually extended their lead in the second and third quarters before the decisive fourth-quarter burst sealed the victory. Richmond, which entered the game with a 56.3% win probability according to National Statistical’s ELO system, improved to 8-3. The Spiders will look to continue their momentum when they host Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday. Liberty, which saw a three-game winning streak snapped, falls to 6-3. The Lady Flames next face Hawaii on Dec. 19 in Makawao, Hawaii.

LYNCHBURG, Va. (Interstat) — Two of the region’s hottest women’s basketball teams will meet Saturday when the Richmond Spiders visit the Liberty Lady Flames at the Vines Center. Richmond (7-3) enters the nonconference matchup looking to rebound from its most lopsided defeat of the season, a 93-73 home loss to Fairfield on Dec. 7. The Spiders had won five of their previous six, including a 69-46 victory over Loyola Chicago on Dec. 3. Liberty (6-2) carries momentum from a thrilling 74-73 road win at George Mason on Dec. 7, secured by a last-second basket. The Lady Flames have won five straight since a Nov. 16 loss to Duke. The game features a compelling matchup between two standout guards. Richmond’s Maggie Doogan has been a consistent force, scoring at least 20 points in six of her last seven games. She is coming off a 24-point, 7-assist performance against Fairfield and recorded a triple-double (17 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists) against Navy on Nov. 23. Liberty counters with Avery Mills, who has led the Lady Flames in scoring in four of the last five games. Mills poured in 24 points in the win at George Mason and matched that total against Manhattan on Nov. 30. Richmond’s offense runs through Doogan, but she gets support from Rachel Ullstrom (18 points vs. Fairfield) and Ally Sweeney (17 points vs. Fairfield). Liberty’s attack is more balanced behind Mills, with Emmy Stout (22 points, 5 assists vs. George Mason) providing a major secondary threat. The Spiders will aim to control the tempo with Doogan’s playmaking, while Liberty will rely on its defensive pressure and home-court advantage. The Lady Flames are 4-0 at the Vines Center this season, winning those games by an average of 28.5 points. Saturday’s contest is the final tune-up for both teams before extensive holiday tournament travel. Richmond will host Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 16 before a multi-team event in Glen Allen, Virginia. Liberty travels to Hawaii for a pair of games starting Dec. 19. Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday afternoon.