Nov. 25, 2006
Consolation: Rhode Island 75, Central Connecticut 63
Championship: Vermont 56, Boston College 48
KINGSTON, R.I. - A career-high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting by sophomore center Tanja Licina pushed Rhode Island to a 75-63 victory over Central Connecticut, Saturday, in the consolation game of the URI Invitational.
Junior guard Safi Mojidi added 17 points and seven assists, while sophomore forward Sierra Cooper was credited with 10 points for the Rams (1-5), which broke a five-game losing skid to open the 2006-07 season with the win.
Rhode Island started the game with a 16-4 run, capped by a jumper by Cooper at the 13:29 mark of the first half. Central Connecticut would battle back, using a 30-10 run over the next 9:24 to lead, 34-26, with 4:05 on the clock and lead 38-33 at halftime.
"I thought our team did more to help Central Connecticut get back into the game than they did to catch back up with us in the first half," said coach Tom Garrick. "We made some good adjustments at halftime and paid a little more attention to detail which helped us pull away in the second half."
Licina was perfect in the second half, going 7-for-7 from the field and 6-for-6 from the foul line, en route to 20 points in the final 20 minutes and all-tournament team honors. Trailing, 56-50, with 10:50 to play in the game, a 10-0 run that included four free throws and a layup by Licina, gave the Rams a 60-56 lead with 6:20 to play that it would not relinquish.
"We wanted to focus on penetrating and getting closer to the hoop so we could open up the floor and get to the foul line more," continued Garrick. "We thought we could take advantage of Tanja's size advantage in the post and she was up to the challenge. She was the recipient of us trying to get to the hoop and get some easier baskets."
Rhode Island converted 17-of-20 free throws in the game, while scoring 29 points off 20 Blue Devil turnovers.
The Rams head to Michigan State to take on the Spartans this Wednesday, November 29th at 7:00 p.m.
URI INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM - Gabriella Guegbelet (Central Conn.), Tanja Licina (Rhode Island), Kathrin Ress (Boston College), Courtnay Pilypaitis (Vermont). MVP - Brittany Cross (Vermont)
