Feb. 22, 2007

Box Score

OLEAN, N.Y. - Rhode Island sophomore forward Sierra Cooper totaled team-highs with 12 points and seven rebounds but it was St. Bonaventure (15-13, 5-8 A-10) cruising to a 64-57 win over the Rams (6-21, 4-9 A-10) at the Reilly Center in Olean, N.Y., Thursday.

SBU forward Dana Mitchell poured in 32 points on 13-of-20 shooting, while grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Bonnies.

URI led, 3-2, on a jumper by junior guard Safi Mojidi at 18:11, before an 11-3 SBU run made it 13-6 with 13:11 on the clock. Rhody responded with a 12-6 push capped by a Hollis lay-up to make it a one-point game, 19-18, with 6:51 to play in the half.

Leading by one, 23-22, at 5:15, the Bonnies would score nine unanswered to take its largest lead of the game, 32-22, with 3:13 to go in the period. An 8-4 URI run to finish the half made the score 36-30 after 20 minutes of play.

St. Bonaventure out-rebounded the Rams, 23-10, in the first half en route to a 41-30 margin for the game.

SBU opened the second half on an 8-0 run to lead, 44-30, with 17:28 on the clock, before URI scored 10-unanswered, including eight by Cooper, to close the gap to four points, 44-40, at 14:24. A 10-4 Bonnies push made the score, 54-42, with 11:03 to play.

A rebound and a put-back by sophomore forward Jessica Magley at 5:13 pulled the Rams within seven points, 60-53, but SBU would never let them get any closer, sending URI to its fifth-straight loss.

URI finishes the regular season on Sunday with a 2:00 p.m. game at Xavier. Having already clinched a berth in the A-10 Tournament, the Rams will return to Cincinnati for a first-round matchup on Friday, March 2, with opponent and game time to be announced.