Richmond Handles Alabama A&M in 4 Tha Culture Holiday Classic Opener

Saturday, December 20

Henrico, Va.

1 p.m.

University of Richmond

10-3,1-0Atlantic 10

Alabama A&M

4-8,0-0SWAC

Alabama A&M

Richmond

Richmond Handles Alabama A&M in 4 Tha Culture Holiday Classic Opener

12/20/2025 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

GLEN ALLEN, Va. – Rachel Ullstrom knocked down six three-pointers and finished with 20 points as the University of Richmond women's basketball team earned a 72-58 win over Alabama A&M in the 4 Tha Culture Holiday Classic opener Saturday afternoon inside the Henrico Sports & Events Center. With the win, the Spiders improved to 10-3 overall, while the Bulldogs fell to 4-8.

Richmond Starters
Sweeney, Newell, Ullstrom, Simon, Doogan

How It Happened
Rachel Ullstrom opened the scoring for the Spiders, who began the game on a 13-0 run with efforts from Tierra Simon, Maggie Doogan and Alicia Newell. Alabama A&M scored its first points of the contest at the 4:22 mark with a layup. The Bulldogs then added a free throw before Ava Persichetti notched her first points of the game with a triple to build a 16-3 Spider lead. Another jumper from the Bulldogs cut the UR lead to 11, but Newell and Sam Dewey combined for five points to end the first quarter with the Spiders ahead, 21-7.

Persichetti opened the second 10 minutes with her second three-pointer to give Richmond a 17-point advantage, 24-7. Two straight buckets from the Bulldogs cut the lead to 13, but Persichetti again connected from deep to end the scoring drought for the Spiders and extend the lead to 27-11 with 7:36 left in the half. Rayne Wright followed with a layup before the Bulldogs answered on the other end. After exchanging baskets, Wright and Shaneka Campbell combined for four points to push Richmond's lead to 21, 38-17. Alabama A&M managed three points before Ullstrom buried a triple to preserve a 20-point Spider lead, 41-21. The Bulldogs closed the half on a 6-0 run to send Richmond into the break with a 14-point advantage, 41-27.

Tierra Simon started the third quarter with a layup before Doogan went 1-of-2 at the free throw line to extend the Spider lead to 17, 44-27. After exchanging baskets on both ends, Sam Dewey and Ullstrom combined for five points to rebuild the lead to 19, 57-38, with 3:01 remaining in the quarter. Alabama A&M answered with a layup before Doogan added two free throws to maintain the 19-point margin. The Bulldogs scored once more before the end of the quarter, as Richmond led 59-42 after three.

A 7-0 run from Alabama A&M trimmed the Spider lead to 10, 59-49, to open the fourth quarter before Doogan scored five points to push the margin back to 15. The Bulldogs immediately responded with a three-pointer, but Doogan knocked down a triple of her own. Alabama A&M then cut the lead back down to 13, 67-54, with 2:04 remaining. Dewey and Doogan combined for five points down the stretch, while the Bulldogs added two baskets, as Richmond secured the 72-58 victory.

Notes on the Game

Rachel Ullstrom recorded her 14th career game with 20 or more points, finishing with 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting, including a 6-of-12 mark from beyond the arc. She also added three assists.
Maggie Doogan finished in double figures with 15 points, along with seven rebounds, six assists, one block and two steals.
Sam Dewey posted a career-high seven rebounds to pace the team alongside Doogan.
Ally Sweeney dished out six assists and added five rebounds.
As a team, Richmond shot 26-of-61 (42.6 percent) from the field, 14-of-39 (35.9 percent) from three and 6-of-8 (75 percent) from the free throw line. The Spiders totaled 36 rebounds, including 13 offensive, along with 23 assists, three blocks and five steals. The bench contributed 25 points, led by Ava Persichetti with nine, and Richmond scored 12 points off 11 Alabama A&M turnovers.

Up Next
Richmond will look to close non-conference play Sunday, taking on Penn State at 2:30 p.m. to conclude the 4 Tha Culture Holiday Classic inside the Henrico Sports & Events Center.