Dec. 1, 2010

Box Score

KINGSTON, R.I. - Senior guard Megan Shoniker scored a team-high 15 points to propel the Rhode Island women's basketball team (4-3) to an exciting 58-56 victory Wednesday night at the Ryan Center.

Shoniker was one of three Rams to finish in double figures as senior forward Caitlin Kearns and junior forward Lara Gaspar notched 12 points apiece. Kearns' 12 points were a career-high.

Defensively, Rhody forced BU into 17 turnovers and limited the Terriers to under 40-percent shooting. URI is now 4-1 when holding an opponent to under 40-percent shooting.

Rhody jumped out to a 6-0 lead at the 17:20 mark of the first half. Gaspar had a pair of field goals during the stretch.

BU fought back as it cut the Rams' lead to two (9-7) at the 13:30 mark. Rhody responded with a 12-5 run over the next five minutes, increasing its lead to a game-best nine points (21-12) with 8:12 to go in the opening half.

The Terriers came right back with a 13-2 run of their own over the next five minutes to take their first lead of the game at 25-23 with 3:00 minutes to go until halftime.

Gaspar tied the game at 25 apiece after netting a pair of free throws with 1:25 remaining and Kearns gave Rhody the lead heading into the locker room as she drilled a jumper with 32 seconds left in the half.

Neither team led by more than four points for the first 10 minutes of the second half. At the nine minute mark, the score was tied at 43, but the Rams would then go on to make their move as they went on a 9-2 run to extend their lead to seven (52-45) with 4:42 to go in the game.

The Terriers would then stage a furious comeback as they went on a 9-2 run that tied the game at 54 with just over a minute left to play.

Junior guard Sherrie Session gave Rhody the lead right back on its next offensive possession as she converted a lay-up with 55 seconds to go.

In the final 30 seconds, Rhody held a 57-54 lead, but BU would not quit as senior forward Kerry Cashman put in a layup to cut URI's advantage to one at 57-56.

Cashman would then create a steal, giving BU the ball with 18 seconds remaining, but Shoniker stole the inbound pass and would then go to the free throw line to give Rhody a 58-56 lead it would not relinquish.

URI returns to action on Saturday as it heads to Towson for a 1 p.m. tipoff.