Jan. 12, 2010

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KINGSTON, R.I. - Junior guard Megan Shoniker scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Rhode Island women's basketball team past George Washington, 59-51, Tuesday night at the Ryan Center.

Rhody never trailed as it improved to 9-8 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic 10. The win also marked URI's first regular-season victory over George Washington since Feb. 25, 1996.

Shoniker's 20-point effort marked the sixth time this season in which she has led the team in scoring. The Rochester, N.Y. native connected on 6-of-14 shots from the field, including three from beyond the arc. Shoniker also dished out a game-high five assists.

Sophomore Lara Gaspar and freshman Anisha Wilson also chipped in with 10 points apiece. Senior forward Lindsay Harris, meanwhile, pulled down a team-high 13 rebounds and poured in nine points as she narrowly missed her sixth double-double on the year.

Rhody held a 42-36 advantage on the glass and forced the Colonials into 19 turnovers, which led to 19 URI points.

In the first half, URI held the GW scoreless for the first six minutes of the game as it opened up a 9-0 lead. Rhody would widen the gap to 21-11 with eight minutes to go in the first half.

George Washington fought back and cut the Rams' lead to just three points (21-18) with 6:07 remaining. During the final stretch of the first half, URI responded by outscoring the Colonials 9-5 to take a 30-23 lead into the locker room.

URI is now 8-0 on the year when leading at the half.

In the second frame, George Washington cut the Rhode Island lead to five points with 19:42 to go in the game, but that was as close as the Colonials would get as URI lead by double digits for a majority of the final 20 minutes.

Prior to the start of the game, the URI athletics department honored head coach Cathy Inglese for her 400th career victory.

The Rams return to action on Friday night when they travel to Saint Louis. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Eastern Time.