Rhode Island Starters
Cairns, Squires, Toure, Hattix-Covington, Lassiter

SEMO Starters
Watkins, Doyle, Stallings, Flowers, Bussard

How it Happened
Rhode Island head coach Tammi Reiss picked up her 50th career win as the Rams beat Southeast Missouri State 66-49 in the opening game of the UCF Thanksgiving Classic.

Rhody (4-1) got off to a sluggish start, committing seven turnovers in the first period. The Redhawks (2-3) used a 8-0 run to build a 14-7 lead by the first media timeout. Rhode Island got into its rhythm behind two straight baskets from Mayé Touré, and used a 7-0 run of their own to close the quarter up 18-15.

The Rams held SEMO scoreless until 4:41 of the second period when Kennedi Watkins went 1-for-2 at the free throw line (22-16). An Emma Squires 3-pointer gave the Rams a 25-16 lead. The teams exchanged baskets in the final minutes of the half, but a Dolly Cairns trey sent the Rams into the break with a 30-26 advantage.

Sayawni Lassiter completed a classic three-point play to put the Rams up 35-29 in the opening minutes of the third quarter. SEMO would not let up, going on a 8-2 run to tie the score at 39. Rhode Island suffered a scoring drought for almost four minutes, and the Redhawks used a successful and-one to regain the lead (42-39). 

The Rams answered with a 7-0 run to get back on top, capped by another Cairns 3-pointer (46-42). Rhody then closed the third on a 8-1 run for their biggest lead of the game (54-43).

Rhode Island used its stingy defense in the fourth to limit SEMO to 2-of-14 from the floor. Sophie Phillips hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Rams up 60-46. The Redhawks went almost five minutes without a field goal, connecting on just one shot from the floor down the stretch and the Rams were able to preserve its fourth straight win.

Inside the Box Score

• The win was head coach Tammi Reiss' 50th career victory. Now 50-32, Reiss is the fastest coach to reach 50 wins in program history. 
• The Rams had three score in double figures. 
• Junior Mayé Touré led the way with 18 points on 8-of-13 from the floor. 
• Grad transfer Emma Squires had 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
• Grad transfer Sayawni Lassiter was the third Rma in double figures, with 11 points. She added five assists, four steals, and four rebounds.
• The two teams combined for 44 turnovers.
• The game was the first-ever meeting between the programs.
• Sophomore Sophie Phillips had a solid game off the bench, scoring six points and adding two blocks and two steals.
• Redshirt-freshman Sophie Sene made her Rhody debut, scoring four points.