By: Hannah Lorusso
GoRhody.com Staff

Sayawni Lassiter is a graduate transfer who previously played at both Florida State and Rutgers. She is currently a guard for the Rhode Island women's basketball team pursuing a masters in financial analysis. While playing at Florida State she completed all four years of her undergrad and received her bachelor's degree in Finance with a minor in business and economic analytics. While pursuing her degree, she emerged as one of Northwestern Mutual's top interns in 2020-21 all while becoming Florida State's most valuable player off the bench that same year, and being named captain. Lassiter is truly a talented leader, financial representative, and women's D1 basketball player.

Lassiter played at Rutgers for the 2021-22 season and she had an excellent season before she transferred to the University of Rhode Island. She played in all 31 games and had 18 starts during that season, and averaged 4.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in an average of 19 minutes per contest as a Scarlet Knight. In a victory against Illinois last year, Lassiter achieved a career and season-high of 18 points.

Upon transferring to URI, Lassiter was named captain of the Rams Women's basketball team, and she has been mentoring first year Ines Debroise. She enjoys guiding the freshman and teaching her the ins and outs of being a college basketball player. Lassiter added, "She's a really good player and talking to her helps, she's always asking questions. I help her make those next level plays, and always guide her to think ahead even when times are tough."

While being a great leader, Lassiter also leads Atlantic 10 play by dishing out 6.2 assists per game. She has had five games with seven or more assists. "We [have] lots of shooters," said Lassiter. "They really make me look good."

She had mentioned the coaches always inspire the team to shoot, and to keep going despite what the last play was. To always focus on the next one. Lassiter also said the coaches inspire them by saying, "If you can be good for yourself, you can be good for your team."

Although she had an excellent last two years of playing basketball during her graduate years, she has maintained her job at Northwestern Mutual. She is continuing to get her own clients, and guide them through their finances to determine what to invest their money in. While being a captain, financial representative, and basketball player she has been on the honor roll and maintaining excellent grades in the classroom. She is a true leader for the URI women's basketball team- the only undefeated team in A-10 conference games- and it is very exciting to see what she achieves both on and off the court this year.

Lassiter finished, "It's all about time management."

 

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