Rhode Island Starters
Williams, Foppossi, Cairns, Elmore, Tahane
Quinnipiac Starters
Caverly, Dewees, Bonner, Free, Morris
How it Happened
Rhode Island's historic season came to an end as the Rams fell to Quinnipiac, 61-50, in the opening round of the Women's NIT Friday night.
URI (22-7) led 26-23 after a closely-contested first half. However, the visiting Bobcats (21-11) outscored the Rams 19-9 in the third quarter to take command. Rose Caverly (18 points, six rebounds) and Mikala Morris (14 points, nine rebounds) helped Quinnipiac build its lead and keep the Rams at an arm's length.
Rhode Island had trouble getting shots to fall in the second half. The Rams shot 21.6 percent (8-of-37) from the field after halftime, including 0-for-9 from 3-point range. After a pair of
Chanell Williams free throws put the Rams ahead 30-29 two minutes into the third quarter, Quinnipiac responded with a 13-6 run to end the quarter. The Bobcats never relinquished the lead.
Inside the Box Score
- The Rams shot a season low 29.2 percent from the field (19-65) and had their second-worst performance from the perimeter, connecting on just 15 percent of their attempts (3-20).
- For the fourth time in the last five games, Rhode Island was outscored by double digits in the third quarter.
- URI had a 12-6 advantage in bench scoring and an 11-7 edge in fastbreak points.
- The game featured 11 lead changes and two ties, however Rhody led for just 7:07 while the Bobcats were ahead for 32:05.
- Redshirt junior Marie-Paule Foppossi led the Rams in scoring with 11 points. She also added eight rebounds, one steal and one block.
- Redshirt senior Emmanuelle Tahane grabbed a team-best 10 rebounds and dished out a career-high seven assists. She also contributed nine points, seven assists and two blocks.
- Grad student Dez Elmore also finished with nine points, as well as six rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block
- Grad student Chanell Williams recorded seven points, three rebounds and a pair of assists in 22 minutes on the floor.
- Grad student Marta Vargas and freshman Emmi Rinat each added five points. Rinat was 2-of-2 from the floor with one rebound and one assist while Vargas had a pair of assists and three boards.
- Sophomore Mayé Touré had two points and two rebounds in two minutes off the bench.