Jan. 22, 2011

Box Score

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - Rhode Island senior Megan Shoniker scored a team-high 17 points as the Rams fell to St. Bonaventure, 66-52, on Saturday afternoon at the Reilly Center. Junior Sherrie Session also scored in double figures for URI as she finished with 12 points and two steals.

As a team, the Rams shot a season-best 91.7% (22-of-24) from the free throw line, connecting on 14 consecutive attempts in the second half.

St. Bonaventure (13-7, 3-2) opened the game on a 12-2 run while forcing the Rams into five turnovers over the first 4:26 of play. Rhody also missed its first three shots of the game before a pair of foul shots by senior Caitlin Kearns finally put URI on the board at the 16:14 mark.

Rhode Island (6-13, 0-5) went on to hit its next six attempts from the field - including six straight points from Session, which capped a 14-8 push that got the Rams back within four (20-16). The two squads traded baskets throughout the remainder of the half with the Bonnies holding a slight edge until Session capitalized on a SBU turnover under the Rhody basket and sent the Rams into the break tied at 26-26.

Despite getting off to a slow start, the Rams connected at a 55-percent clip (11-of-20) in the first frame, marking their best first-half shooting percentage so far this season.

URI took its first lead of the game after (30-28) after a jumper by junior Lara Gaspar with 17:30 on the clock. Shoniker followed with a layup to put Rhody in front by four (32-28) but that would be the Rams' final field goal of the game.

From that point forward, all of Rhode Island's points came from the free throw line as the Rams connected on 20-of-22 attempts over the final 16 and a half minutes of play.

Rhode Island made just 3-of-20 attempts from the field in the second frame for a 15-percent showing from the floor. It was both a season low for the Rams as well as the Bonnies' best defensive performance in a half this season.

Megan Van Tatenhove (21) Jessica Jenkins (11) and Doris Ortega (10) all scored in double figures for SBU while Armelia Horton and Alaina Walker each recorded a game-high eight rebounds.

The Rams return to action next weekend when they travel to Cincinnati for a Saturday afternoon meeting with the nationally-ranked Xavier Musketeers. TIp-off at the Cintas Center is set for 4 p.m.