Dec. 8, 2010

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. - In a game that featured 18 lead changes and 12 ties, Rhode Island junior Lara Gaspar scored a career-high 26 points to lead the Rams past Brown, 71-69, in double overtime, Wednesday night at the Pizzitola Center. Gaspar also recorded eight rebounds for URI - which improves to 5-4 on the season.

Senior Megan Shoniker added 22 points for Rhody, marking the fourth time this season that she scores 20-or-more points. The Rochester, N.Y. native also recorded a game-high six assists and three steals to go along with six rebounds. Classmate Caitlin Kearns, meanwhile, narrowly missed a double-double as she finished nine points and nine rebounds.

As a team, Rhode Island shot 40.6 percent (28-of-69) from the floor compared to Brown's 37.3-percent (25-67) showing. URI is now 5-1 when holding opponents to under 40-percent shooting this season.

Rhody also held a 46-43 edge on the glass, marking the seventh time this season the Rams out-rebound their opponents. URI is 5-2 in those games.

Rhode Island got things started by jumping out to a 12-7 lead over the first three minutes but Brown came back with a 10-3 run to go on top, 17-15, midway through the half. Another 10-3 push gave the Bears their largest lead of the game (nine points) at 27-18 following Lauren Clarke's third 3-pointer of the night. However, Rhody came back and outscored Brown 14-5 throughout the remainder of the frame to even things up at 32-32 heading into the break.

The Rams allowed Brown a season-high seven 3-pointers over the first 20 minutes of play as the Bears scored 21 points from long range and added three from the line.

Brown (3-7) went on to make three of its first four shots to open the second half, taking a 39-34 lead after two and a half minutes of play. URI pushed back though, and a layup by Gaspar capped a 13-3 run that put the Rams back in front, 47-42, with 13:43 on the clock.

Brown would tie it up at 49-49 but Rhody did not trail again until Sheila Dixon connected on a shot from beyond the arc to put the Bears on top 56-55 with 4:44 remaining in regulation. The two teams traded points the rest of the way and remained locked at 61-61 when time expired.

Brown scored twice in the first overtime period to take a 65-61 advantage but Gaspar and Shoniker each netted a shot to make it a 65-65 game and force double OT.

There, junior Sherrie Session and freshman Emilie Cloutier each scored for Rhody to even things up at 69-69, before a key foul and turnover by Brown's Aileen Daniels put the ball back in URI's hands with six seconds left on the clock. Shoniker then drove through the lane and was fouled on her way to the basket before making good on a pair of free throws to seal the 71-69 victory for Rhode Island.

The Bears were paced by Clarke, who finished with 24 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including six 3-pointers. Lindsay Nickel (13), Dixon (12) and Daniels (12) also scored in double figures for the Bears. Daniels and Dixon each finished with a double-double, recording 12 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

The Rams return to action on Saturday afternoon when the host St. John's at 2 p.m.