KINGSTON, R.I. – The University of Rhode Island women's swimming & diving team returns to the Tootell Aquatics Center this weekend to welcome Atlantic 10 competitors George Washington, La Salle and Massachusetts for the Rhode Island Invitational this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 13-14, respectively.

Friday's meet starts at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday's begins at 10:30 a.m.

The Rams (4-2) are eager to kickoff their 2012 schedule the way 2011 ended, with a victory. Rhode Island has won three consecutive meets, beating Providence on Nov. 16, winning the Harold Anderson Invitational on Dec. 2 and 3, and dominating Bryant on Dec. 10, the Rams' last scoring meet.

George Washington's women are coming off a 140-119 home loss to Old Dominion on Dec. 3, while the men beat Old Dominion that day 157-105.

The La Salle Explorer's are returning to action after a 10-day training trip in Puerto Rico at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez. The women's team beat Bucknell 164-136 in their home pool on Dec. 3, while the men lost 171-127.

The Massachusetts Minutewomen and Minutemen are also coming off a Puerto Rico winter training session. In their last meet on Dec. 3, the Minutewomen lost 166-134 to Northeastern, while the Minutemen sank at Yale that day, 176-112.

For the Rams, this weekend's meet against three Atlantic 10 conference opponents will be a measurement for what's potentially to come in the Atlantic 10 Championships taking place next month, beginning Feb. 22.

At last years Rhode Island Invitational, Massachusetts won with 517.5 points, La Salle (478) was second, Rhode Island (385) was third and George Washington (278.5) was fourth

Following the Rhode Island Invitational, the Rams will travel to compete at Wagner College on Jan. 21. The meet is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. EST.