On March 23, 2025, the Richmond Spiders walked into Pauley Pavilion with history on their minds. The bracket said No. 11 seed. The doubters said fluke. But Aaron Roussell’s squad had already silenced the skeptics all season long, and for three quarters against the powerhouse UCLA Bruins, they looked ready to do it again.
Then the fourth quarter happened. While the 84 - 67 final score stung, it didn’t tell the story of a collapse - it told the story of a program that arrived on the biggest stage in women’s college basketball, and a dynasty that used that night as rocket fuel for an eventual national title. Let’s break down that unforgettable second-round clash, what it meant for both programs, and where they stand now in the sweltering summer of 2026.
The Game: Where It Was Won and Lost
From the opening tip, UCLA’s size advantage was glaring and immediate. Lauren Betts was an absolute force of nature in the paint, bullying her way to a double-double with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Every Richmond possession felt like a war of attrition - the Spiders had to work twice as hard for every bucket while Betts made the rim look like a layup line. If that wasn’t enough, Kiki Rice ran the show with surgical precision, dropping 21 points and 7 assists while shredding Richmond’s defense in transition. That one-two punch was simply too much firepower.
But Richmond didn’t go quietly into that Los Angeles night. Maggie Doogan was the absolute star for the Spiders, pouring in a game-high 24 points while keeping her team within striking distance deep into the third quarter. Rachel Ullstrom chipped in 14, and the Spiders fought tooth and nail in front of an official sellout crowd of 6,482. The Bruins’ fourth-quarter push - fueled by relentless transition offense and Betts’ sheer dominance on the glass - finally sealed the deal, but not before Richmond proved they belonged.
📊 Maggie Doogan’s 24 points led all scorers in the game - The Richmond star outscored both UCLA headliners in the first three quarters, proving the Spiders’ offense could hang with anyone.
For Roussell, the loss was bittersweet. It ended Richmond’s best season in program history at 28 - 7, a historic run that put the Spiders on the national map. It wasn't just a defeat; it was the closing chapter of a Cinderella story that nearly became a blockbuster.
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maggie Doogan | Richmond | 24 | 5 | 3 |
| Lauren Betts | UCLA | 23 | 15 | 2 |
| Kiki Rice | UCLA | 21 | 4 | 7 |
| Rachel Ullstrom | Richmond | 14 | 6 | 1 |
From One Historic Season to Another: Roussell’s Rebuild
Here’s the part that should excite Richmond fans: that March 2025 loss wasn’t the ceiling - it was a springboard. Fast forward to August 2026, and Aaron Roussell is still prowling the sidelines, only now with an extended contract through the 2030 - 31 season. The university showed its faith in his leadership after he guided the Spiders to a 24 - 8 record in 2025 - 26 and a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
The 2026 tournament run ended in heartbreak with an opening-round loss to NC State on March 20, 2026, but the foundation is firmly set. Roussell has been a recruiting machine, signing both a guard and a forward during the spring 2026 signing period. This roster is being built for sustained success, not just one magical March. And with the Spider Club NIL collective announcing a $500,000 fundraising goal for women's basketball in July 2026, the program is investing in its future like never before.
📊 Richmond went 24 - 8 in 2025 - 26 and earned a second straight NCAA bid - Roussell’s extension through 2030 - 31 signals the program’s commitment to building on that momentum, not just reliving it.
