RHODE ISLAND AT THE CHRISTMAS CITY CLASSIC
After a 10-day break for the holidays. Rhode Island travels to Bethlehem, Pa. to close out 2011 at the Christmas City Classic. There, the Rams will face host team Lehigh on Thursday (7:30 p.m.) and James Madison on Friday (5 p.m.). The last time Rhody competed at the Christmas City Classic (2007-08 season), the Rams were a perfect 2-0 with wins over Stony Brook (56-55) and Lehigh (50-47).
RHODY VS. LEHIGH
Rhode Island is 1-0 in the all-time series vs. Lehigh, winning the only meeting between the teams (50-47) on Dec. 30, 2007.
RHODY VS. JAMES MADISON
Rhode Island is 1-4 in the all-time series vs. James Madison. The last time the teams met - Dec. 29, 2002 at the Stetson Tournament - the Dukes posted a 59-52 win over the Rams. Rhody's lone victory over JMU was a 64-55 win in the first-ever meeting between the teams, on Dec. 28, 1983.
CATHY INGLESE VS. LEHIGH/JAMES MADISON
Over her 24+ years as a head coach, Cathy Inglese has never faced Lehigh and is 1-0 against James Madison after posting a win at Vermont.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS (6-6)
Lehigh enters the Christmas City Classic looking to extend its winning streak to five games as the team's last defeat was a 62-54 overtime loss to Villanova back on Nov. 30. The Mountain Hawks are led by a pair of players averaging double figures: Alexa Williams (10.8 ppg/10.0 rpg) and Emily Gratch (10.8 ppg/7.5 rpg). Williams also leads the team in blocks (17) and steals (15) while Hilary Weaver has dished out a team-best 44 assists. Collectively, Lehigh is shooting 33.9% (221-651) from the field while averaging 42.0 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING THE DUKES (7-2)
James Madison heads to Lehigh looking to bounce back after a 59-53 loss to in-state rival Virginia on Dec. 20. Prior to that, the Dukes had won seven of their first eight games. JMU is led by a trio of players averaging double figures: Tarik Hislop (15.8 ppg/2.0 rpg), Jasmine Gill (12.9 ppg/5.8 rpg) and Kirby Burkholder (11.0 ppg/7.2 rpg). Hislop also leads the team with 27 assists while Nikki Newman is the Dikes' top rebounder (7.6 rpg). Collectively, JMU is shooting 37.1% (211-568) from the field while averaging 42.6 rebounds per game.
URI'S LAST TIME OUT: NEW HAMPSHIRE 52, RHODE ISLAND 33
- The 1-11 start marks URI's slowest start to a season since the team went 1-11 over its first 12 games in 2006-07.
- New Hampshire connected on just 4-of-20 attempts over the first 20 minutes of play, marking its worst half in any game this season. Similarly, the Wildcats' 20% showing from the floor was Rhody's best defensive performance in any single half this year.
- After the break, Rhody pushed its lead to 10 (30-20) with 15:18 left to play, but UNH rallied back and closed out the game with a 32-3 run. The 33 points were the Rams fewest in a game since the team dropped a 69-29 decision at No. 21 Xavier in 2008-09.
- UNH held a 45-28 rebounding advantage and outscored Rhode Island in the paint, 28-16.
- The Rams connected on just one of 13 attempts from long range. Rhody is now 3-of-21 from beyond the arc over its last three games, after ranking 13th in the nation with a 39.2 (38-97) three-point field goal percentage on Dec. 5.
- Ashley Rivera posted a team-high 13 points for the Rams, marking just the second time this season that only one Rhody player reached double figures.
