By: Jake Brown
GoRhody.com Staff

Rhode Island Starters
Phillips, Squires, Touré, Hattix-Covington, Lassiter

La Salle Starters
Claire Jacobs, Masciantonio, Mia Jacobs, Shears, Spruill


How it Happened
Mayé Touré had 24 points and 11 rebounds to lift Rhode Island to a 70-59 win over La Salle Sunday afternoon at the Ryan Center. 
 
Rhode Island (12-3, 3-0 Atlantic 10) and La Salle (9-8, 0-2 A-10) exchanged baskets early, making it a 7-7 game early on in the first quarter. Returning from injury, Dolly Cairns gave the Rams the boost they needed, coming off the bench to score six straight points. Throughout the first quarter, Rhode Island was able to draw several fouls, allowing the Rams to sink 8-of-9 shots from the charity stripe, which allowed them to get some breathing room. With solid defense to close out the quarter, the Rams found themselves leading, 19-12 after one.
 
Touré set the tone in the second quarter, dominating the glass and finishing on the inside, scoring eight points and hauling in six rebounds. Her play on both sides of the floor helped Rhode Island extend its lead to double digits. Her production helped the Rams take a 36-24 lead into the half. 
 
La Salle scored 24 points in the third quarter, allowing the Explorers to cut into the lead. Several Rhody turnovers led to a 7-0 La Salle run, cutting Rhode Island's lead to 40-34. After a timeout, the Rams quickly regathered, with Madison Hattix-Covington silencing the Explorer run with a mid-range jumper. Touré then scored on a tough and-one off a feed from Anaelle Dutat, pushing the lead back to 45-34 lead midway through the third quarter. The Explorers answered again, Led by Charity Shears' eight third-quarter points, including a second-chance layup late in the period, La Salle again got within six points at 54-48 heading into the final quarter of play.
 
After Claire Jacobs nailed a jumper narrowing Rhode Island's lead to four points, Touré and Sayawni Lassiter helped the Rams go on a 7-0 run to extend the lead to double digits once again, 61-50 with five minutes remaining. The Rams kept La Salle at an arm's length for their third straight win.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island improved to 8-0 at home this season.
• The Rams never trailed in the game.
• URI has won four straight games over La Salle. The Rams were just 6-29 all time against the Explorers before this streak.
• Junior Mayé Touré continued her exceptional season. She finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.
• It was her fourth straight game with a double-double and her sixth double-double of the season.
• Toure was 8-of-11 from both the field and the free throw line.
• Sophomore Sophie Phillips had 14 points, three steals
• Phillips has scored in double figures in the last three games. She was 4-of-9 from 3-point range, her fourth time this season with four from long range.
• Junior Dolly Cairns returned after missing four games with an injury. She had nine points off the bench.
• Graduate students Madison Hattix-Covington and Emma Squires had nine and seven points, respectively.
• Graduate student Sayawni Lassiter had six rebounds, six assists, two points and one steal.
• Freshman Anaelle Dutat had a plus-11in 23 minutes off the bench. She had six rebounds, two steals and an assist as she continues to impact the game.
• Freshman Ines Debroise had five points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal in 15 minutes off the bench.

Up Next
The Rams play at Saint Louis Thursday, Jan. 12. Game time is 8:00 p.m. EST.