Feb. 13, 2011

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KINGSTON, R.I. - Senior guard Megan Shoniker scored a game-high 35 points, connecting on 8-of-16 shots from the field to lead the Rhode Island women's basketball team to a 68-54 victory over Saint Louis, Sunday afternoon at the Ryan Center. The victory snapped URI's 21-game Atlantic 10 losing streak, which began last season at Saint Louis (Jan. 15, 2010).

Shoniker's 35-point effort tied a career-high and marked the third time this season she has scored 30 points or more. The Rochester, N.Y. native connected on 18-of-19 shots from the free throw line. Her 18 free throws also served as a school record.

Junior Lara Gaspar also chipped in with 20 points as she connected on 9-of-14 shots from the field. Gaspar's 20-point effort marked the fourth time this season she has scored 20 points or more.

Shoniker and Gaspar's combined 55-point showing marked the first time that Rhody had two players score 20-or-more in the same game since Jan. 5, 2010 when sophomore Ashley Rivera and then-senior Lindsay Harris both surpassed the 20-point plateau against Holy Cross.

URI (7-17, 1-9) never trailed in the game as it outshot Saint Louis 46.3-36.8 percent. The Rams also held a 20-16 advantage in points off turnovers.

Rhody held a 33-21 lead at the half, holding Saint Louis to just 29.2-percent shooting over the first 20 minutes of play. Both Shoniker (13) and Gaspar (14) had reached double figures by the end of the first frame.

In the second half, URI increased its lead to as many as 17 points with 13:17 remaining. The Billikens (7-18, 1-9) would not quit however as they charged back to cut URI's lead to seven with 4:21 to go. However, they would get no closer as Rhody held on for the win - its first in A-10 play since Jan. 12, 2010.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday as they welcome Fordham to the Ryan Center. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.