Box Score Rhode Island Starters
Phillips, Magassa, Hyman, Touré, Davis

Portland Starters 
Meek, Shearer, Dickie, Burnham, Cochrane

How it Happened
Rhode Island overcame a slow start to knock off Portland 64-58 Saturday afternoon to win both of its games at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.

The Rams (5-2) found themselves in an 11-point hole to start the game as Portland (3-4) forced five Rhode Island turnovers in the first three minutes of play. Maisie Burnham hit a pair of 3-point shots and Kennedy Dickie added a third as Portland jumped out to a 13-2 lead just 4:11 into the game. Mayé Touré scored six points to spark a 12-4 run by the Rams to close out the quarter.

Another fast start by Portland to start the second quarter saw the deficit grow back to 11 points. Burnham hit another 3-pointer to cap a 10-2 run to start the period as Rhode Island fell behind, 27-16. URI steadily chipped away over the final seven minutes of the half. Two Hawa Komara free throws, a 3-pointer from Teisha Hyman and another long-range shit from Sophie Phillips keyed an 8-0 run to get Rhody within 27-24. Another Phillips trey got the Rams within one possession at 29-27, but URI could not close the gap further and found itself down 34-30 heading to the break.

Portland opened the second half with a Lucy Cochrane jumper that put the Pilots up by six points. From there the Rams took over. Hyman scored six straight points to tie the score 36-36. Portland scored the next three points, but a Touré hookshot followed by a layup from Anaelle Dutat gave Rhode Island its first lead of the game at 40-39 with 5:55 to go in the third. Back-to-back baskets from Tenin Magassa stretched the lead to 44-39, and it helped the Rams take a 47-44 lead into the final period.

In the final quarter, Portland closed within two points on a jumper from Kianna Hamilton-Fisher with 6:58 to go. However, four URI free throws – two each from Tenin Magassa and Hyman – built the lead back to six at 56-50. The Hyman free throws came after a technical foul was called on the Portland head coach.

Both teams struggled down the stretch. Rhody went 3:25 without a point until Touré hit a free throw with 1:47 to go. It didn't matter, as Portland went scoreless for 6:07 down the stretch before Dickie made a pair of free throws. By that point, the result was secure as the Rams won their second straight game. A late 3-pointer by Portland made the final score closer than the result truly was.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island has won at least five games before the end of November for the third straight season. The Rams were 7-1 in the opening month in 2021-22, 5-1 last season and 5-2 thus far this year.
• Rhody has one more November game this season, as it hosts Quinnipiac on Nov. 30.
• Forward Mayé Touré had 13 points, six rebounds and four steals before she fouled out.
• Guard Teisha Hyman scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed six boards.
• Center Tenin Magassa had eight points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in 15 minutes.
• Guard Sophie Phillips scored nine points and had two assists. She hit three 3-point shots, giving her eight from beyond the arc over the last two games.
• Guard Dee Dee Davis had six points and three assists.
• Forward Anaelle Dutat scored seven points and had five rebounds off the bench.
• Guard Ines Debroise had five points and five rebounds, with all five of her points coming from the free throw line.
• Rhode Island had a 46-36 edge on the boards.

 Up Next
The Rams return home to host Quinnipiac on Thursday, Nov. 30. Game time is 6 p.m. and the action will be streamed on ESPN+.