Rhode Island Starters
Komara, Tutat, Kaur, Phillips, Debroise

UAlbany Starters
Donovan, Cooper, Phillips, Hill, Tomasetti

How it Happened
A poor shooting performance by Rhode Island spoiled a homecoming for Sophie Phillips, as Rhody fell to UAlbany 67-57 Friday night in the Rams' first road test of the season. 

The visitors opened the game with five turnovers, unable to get a real offensive momentum going. Rhody's defense made three straight stops that resulted in a 5-0 run in the closing minute of the first quarter to make the score 15-13. UAlabany's Jessica Tomasetti heaved a last-second 3-pointer that went in to keep the Great Danes at arms length at 18-13.

Rhody tried to get it going in the second, starting off the period with a stop and score by Anaelle Dutat. Dutat, who led with a team-best 13 points, was the only Ram to score in double figures. After opening the quarter with back-to-back baskets, the Rams went cold from the floor the rest of the period, only connecting on a free throw and bucket from Hawa Komara the rest of the way. The Rams went into the break down 10, 30-20.

The Rams continued to struggle after halftime, unable to stop the UAlbany offense. A Cia Eklöf 3-pointer - the Rams' first of the game - came at 3:47 of the third to cut the deficit to single digits (42-34). The Great Danes remained in front after three, 48-39.

The Rhody defense made three straight stops to open the final 10 minutes of play, and a Sophia Vital bucket got the Rams within seven (48-41) but it was as close as URI could get. The Great Danes led by as many as 14 points in the fourth to come away with the win. 

Inside the Box Score

• Anaelle Dutat led the Rams with 13 points. She was the lone Ram to score in double digits. 
• Hawa Komara, making her second straight start, scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Sophia Vital had eight points, two rebounds, and two assists off the bench. 
• Harsimran "Honey" Kaur added nine points and four rebounds battling foul trouble.
• The game was the season opener for the Great Danes.
• Rhody shot 55.6 percent from the free throw line (10-of-18) while UAlbany shot 90 percent at the charity stripe (18-of-20).
• UAlbany outscored Rhode lsland 36-34 in the paint. 
• The game was the first time Rhode Island guard Sophie Phillips faced her twin sister, Lilly. The sisters, who played together at Cambridge Central School, had more than 100 friends and family members in the stands to witness the face-off.

Up Next
The Rams remain on the road and in New York as they make the trip to Syracuse to face Le Moyne on Sunday at noon.