Rhode Island Starters
Muzet, Foppossi, Hendley, Vargas, Tahane
 
Richmond Starters
Holt, Parson, Budnik, Klimkiewicz, Chapman
 
How it Happened
Rhode Island rallied in the fourth quarter to win at Richmond, 56-53, Friday night behind a career night from redshirt junior Emmanuelle Tahane and a strong defensive effort. Tahane had a career-high 25 points, and the Rams held Richmond scoreless for the final 5:19 en route to the win.

With the victory, head coach Tammi Reiss has Rhode Island off to its best start in Atlantic 10 play in 25 years. The Rams – winners of four of their last five games – improved to 4-5 overall and 4-2 in the A-10. It is the best conference record through six games since the 1995-96 team began the year 5-1.

Rhode Island struggled shooting and with fouls in the opening quarter. Guards Marta Vargas and Johanna Muzet both were whistled twice in the first eight minutes, and the Rams shot just 4-of-14. The struggles allowed Richmond to take a 16-10 lead after one quarter, led by eight points from Kate Klimkiewicz.

The Spiders (6-4, 3-2 A-10) went ahead by eight points before Rhode Island ran off seven straight points to make it a one-point game at 18-17. A pair of Emmanuelle Tahane layups and a floater in the lane from Catherine Cairns keyed the spurt. Another Tahane layup gave the Rams a 23-22 lead, but Richmond hit its final three shots of the half to end the quarter on a 8-2 run and bring a 30-25 lead into the break.

The third quarter saw the teams trade baskets until Rhode Island took it biggest lead, 43-40, on a Marta Vargas layup with 1:28 left in the period. Richmond responded with six straight points to give the Spiders a 46-43 lead heading to the final quarter. Grace Townsend got a rebound, drove the length of the court and made a layup while getting fouled with less than one second left in the third.

Siobhan Ryan opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer to push Richmond's lead back to six points. Johanna Muzet hit a layup and Catherine Cairns drilled a long 3-point shot to pull Rhody back to within one point at 49-48.

Richmond managed to maintain its slight advantage until Tahane hit a drop step layup to put Rhode Island in front, 54-53, with 2:02 to go. She then made a pair of free throws with 1:31 to go to extend it to a three-point lead, matching the largest of the game for URI.

Richmond missed a 3-point shot, and Johanna Muzet secured the rebound with 15 seconds to go. The Spiders got a second chance to tie after Rhode Island missed two free throws, but Cairns came away with a steal to seal the win for the Rams.

Inside the Box Score

• Richmond's ball movement was an issue in the first half. The Spiders had nine assists on 11 field goals in the first two quarters. Rhode Island had one assists on its 11 field goals. The Spiders managed just five assists on seven field goals in the second half.
• Redshirt junior Emmanuelle Tahane continued her torrid play, recording her third straight double-double with a career-high 25 points and 12 rebounds
• It was her eighth time scoring in double figures in nine games, and the fourth double-double of the year for Tahane.
• Redshirt sophomore Marie-Paule Foppossi had 10 points, six rebounds and two blocked shots. She has reached double figures for the third straight game.
• Freshman Catherine Cairns chipped in seven points in 28 minutes off the bench.
• Graduate senior Johanna Muzet continued to fill the stat sheet, finishing with six points, six rebounds and four assists.
• Rhode Island had a 13-0 advantage in second-chance points.
• The Rams dominated in the paint. URI had a 40-18 edge in points in the paint.

Up Next
Rhode Island will stay in Richmond to take on VCU Sunday, Jan. 17. Game time is 1 p.m.