Richmond Evens Abl Title Series

Taj McWilliams scored 21 points, including six down the stretch, as the Richmond Rage beat the Columbus Quest 75-62 Tuesday night to even the best-of-five ABL Championship series at a game apiece.

Game 3 in the inaugural championship of women’s professional basketball is Saturday at the Robins Center in Richmond.

Dawn Staley added 19 points and Adrienne Goodson had 16 for Richmond, which won for the first time at Battelle Hall. A crowd of 3,236 watched the game.

Columbus, which won Sunday night’s opener 90-89, was led by Nikki McCray’s 16 points. Sonja Tate added 14 and Katie Smith 10.

The Rage, with the best record (4-6) against the Quest of any ABL team, took control with an 11-2 run at the end of the first half and at the start of the second.

With the score tied at 34 and 1:32 left in the second quarter, Goodson hit a jumper from the foul line and Rehema Stephens closed the scoring in the half with a foul shot.

Richmond then started the third quarter on a Marta Sobral perimeter shot. After Valerie Still answered inside for the Quest, the Rage ran off the next four points on a free throw by Goodson and a three-point play off a falling drive by McWilliams.

After Columbus pulled to 49-44, Staley hit a 3-pointer and Columbus was unable to draw closer.

The loss was Columbus’ first at home against Richmond after winning the previous five. The Quest fell to 21-2 at home this season.

There were 13 ties and six lead changes in the opening half before the Rage took the lead for good on Goodson’s jumper.