Rhode Island Starters
Phillips, Komara, Dutat, Vital, Kaur

Saint Louis Starters
Wallace, Calhoun, Simon, Bergstrom, Kennedy

How it Happened
Rhode Island dominated from start to finish as it pounded Saint Louis 83-63 in the Atlantic 10 opener for both teams Sunday afternoon.

Sophie Phillips became Rhode Island's all-time leader in 3-pointers and Harsimran "Honey" Kaur scored a career-high 27 points. With them leading the way, URI (6-8, 1-0 Atlantic 10) never trailed.

Rhode Island was dominant on both ends of the floor in the opening half as it led by as many as 25 points in the first 20 minutes. Kaur and Phillips combined for 34 points in the first two quarters as the duo outscored Saint Louis by 10 points on their own.

Phillips and Kaur combined for eight 3-pointers in the first half as Rhody shot 53 percent from long range. URI made as many 3-pointers as Saint Louis (6-8, 0-1 A-10) made total field goals in the first two quarters. The Rams held Saint Louis to 31 percent (8-for-26) from the field while also forcing 11 turnovers by the Billikens. It all led to a 45-24 lead by halftime.

The lead swelled to as many as 33 points in the second half, including at 78-45 with 6:00 remaining. Saint Louis scored 18 points over the final six minutes by making six of its final eight shots, but the outcome had long been determined by that point.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island has made 22 3-pointers over its last two games, hitting 11 Sunday and 11 in its win over Saint Francis. In its first 12 games, the Rams had 10 against Le Moyne on Nov. 10 and no more than eight in any other game.
• Point guard Sophia Vital had six points, a career-high 14 assists and six rebounds. She became the only Rhody player other than Dayna Smith to record at least 14 assists in a game. Smith had two games with 15 dimes and a program-record 16 against Temple on Jan. 23, 1995.
• The Rams had 23 assists, their second straight game with 20-plus helpers.
• Harsimran "Honey" Kaur scored a career-high 27 points to go with 10 rebounds in her second double-double in as many games.
• It was her second straight game either tying or setting her career high in points.
• Kaur made a career-best five 3-pointers on 5-of-7 from the arc.
• With her third 3-pointer of the day, Sophie Phillips became Rhode Island's all-time leader in the category, passing Charise Wilson's mark of 197. Phillips made five 3-pointers to give her exactly 200 for her career.
• Phillips is just the fourth Rhode Island basketball player – male or female – to reach 200 career 3-pointers. The others are Jimmy Baron (361), Tyson Wheeler (302) and E.C. Matthews (222).
• Phillips also blocked three shots.
• Forward Hawa Komara had 10 points and five rebounds.
• Guard Ines Debroise had 10 points, five assists and three rebounds in 20 minutes before fouling out.
• Forward Anaelle Dutat had five points and eight rebounds.
• The teams will meet again when Rhody travels to Saint Louis on Feb. 26.

Up Next
Rhode Island travels to St. Bonaventure on Thursday, Jan. 2. Game time is 1 p.m. on ESPN+.