RHODE ISLAND vs. SAINT JOSEPH'S
After back-to-back home games against Duquesne and La Salle, the Rams will travel to Philadelphia for a Wednesday night game at Saint Joseph's. URI is 6-48 in the all-time series vs. the Hawks, picking up its last win - a 56-53 victory - on Feb. 20, 2000. Since then, Rhody has dropped seven straight contests. The last time the teams met (Feb. 5, 2011), the Hawks handed Rhode Island a 59-55 loss at the Ryan Center. In that game, Megan Shoniker finished with a team-high 14 points while Lara Gaspar also scored in double figures with 13. Ajanae Boone - who made her first career start for URI - narrowly missed a double-double with nine points and a career-high eight rebounds. Boone also registered career-highs in blocks (2), assists (3) and minutes (37). Collectively, the Rams held an advantage in rebounding (38-32) and shooting percentage (42.9-37.7), but were outscored 17-3 by the Hawks bench.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Saint Joseph's - which is 16-8 overall and 6-4 in the Atlantic 10 - enters the game looking for its third win in a row after posting back-to-back wins over La Salle and Saint Louis. The Hawks are 10-2 when playing at home this season. SJU is led offensively by Michelle Baker, who is averaging 11.5 points per game. Kelly Cavallo (8.3 rpg) and Sami Van Grinsven (6.1 rpg) are the team's top rebounders while Ashley Prim has recorded a team-leading 81 assists and 33 steals. Collectively, St. Joe's is averaging 65.4 points and 36.0 rebounds per game.
CATHY INGLESE vs. SAINT JOSEPH'S
Over her 24+ years as a head coach, Cathy Inglese has turned in a 3-3 record against St. Joe's, going 3-1 at Boston College and 0-2 at Rhode Island.
LAST TIME OUT: RHODE ISLAND DROPS 49-45 HEARTBREAKER TO LA SALLE
- With the loss, Rhode Island drops to 1-24 overall and 0-10 in the Atlantic 10. URI also falls to 2-13 in the all-time series vs. La Salle, which improves to 12-14 (6-4).
- The game featured 12 lead changes and eight ties. Rhody found itself trailing 11-0 after the first five minutes of play before rallying back over the next 15 minutes and eventually knotting the score at 18-18 with 3:23 remaining in the frame. The teams went into the break with the score tied, 21-21.
- URI led by three (45-42) with 3:07 left in the game but La Salle closed out the game on a 7-0 run to lock up the victory.
- Rhode Island outshot La Salle 37.2% (15-of-48) - 31.3% (16-of-43) but the Explorers connected on seven three-pointers compared to Rhody's three. La Salle also won the battle of the boards, 36-27.
- Seven of the eight Rams that played put points on the board while only five different players scored for La Salle.
- Coia led the Rams with 13 points, marking the eighth time this season that she scored in double figures. She also pulled down a team-high five rebounds, as did Cloutier and Wallack.
- Whittaker led the Rams with four steals and two blocks.
