Rhode Island Starters
Foppossi, Tahane, Williams, Vargas, Elmore
Harvard Starters
Forbes, Sussman, McCarthy, Turner, Mullaney
How it Happened
Rhode Island had four players score in double-figures - for the fifth time this season - in a 70-46 rout of Harvard Tuesday night at the Ryan Center. It marks just the second time in program history that the Rams win six straight to open a season, matching the 2002-03 team for the longest season-opening win streak.
Harvard got off to a hot start, outscoring URI 8-2 over the first three minutes. The Rams erased the deficit quickly, and pulled ahead 19-18 just before the end of the first period, thanks to a jumper by
Yanni Hendley.
Rhody began to distance itself in the second quarter, opening on a 9-3 run and using a final-second jumper by
Dolly Cairns to take a double-digit lead (39-29) into the break.
A 3-pointer by Harvard's McKenzie Forbes cut Rhode Island's lead back to nine points (44-35) midway through the third quarter before the Rams went on a 16-5 run to push the lead to 20 (60-40). Rhody cruised from there, holding the Crimson to just two baskets through the final five minutes of play.
Inside the Box Score
- Emmanuelle Tahane (22), Dolly Cairns (14), Marie-Paule Foppossi (10) and Dez Elmore (10) all reached double figures in the scoring column.
- Tahane recorded her third double-double of the season, finishing with 22 points and 12 rebounds. She also added a pair of assists.
- Foppossi posted her first double-double of the year, scoring 11 points and adding 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals.
- Williams added a season-high six rebounds, two assists and one steal to go with her 11 points.
- Dez Elmore finished with 10 rebounds, six points, two assists and one steal.
- As a team, Rhode Island outscored Harvard in the paint 40-14, and held a 21-9 advantage in fast-break points.
- The Ram's bench also outscored the Crimson's 20-7.
Up Next
Rhode Island returns to action on Friday afternoon, when it opens play at the 2021 Cavalier Classic against host Virginia. The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Rhody head coach Tammi Reiss and assistant coach Sharnee Zoll-Norman. Reiss ('92) was an All-American for the Cavaliers while Zoll-Norman ('08) is the program's all-time assist leader.
