BETHEL, Ohio - Following three days of racing at the 2024 NCAA Women's Rowing Championship, the Rhode Island Rowing team secured a 20th-place finish in the team standings, marking the program's best finish at the regatta.

Rhody collected 17 points to finish ahead of SMU (13 points) and Jacksonville (10 points). The team finished 21st at each of its previous six championship appearances (2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022), taking a marked step forward with the performance.

The Varsity 8+ paved the way for the Rams' success, winning a tightly-contested D Final. Coxswain Lily Stasaitis, stroke Catie Castle, Bethany Nordstrom, Nicole Jones, Samantha Gumprecht, Cait Reardon, Emma Barnhart, Sarah Pecoraro and Bella Bruno bested second-place Boston University by just over one second to place 20th overall. It tied the program's highest-ever finish in that event, as the 2016 Varsity 8+ also achieved the feat.

Rhode Island's Second Varsity 8+ of coxswain Ellie McGee, stroke Jessica Tosi, Olivia Kowalski, Hailey Pardi, Sammie Gorecki, Eryn Wale, Amanda Cubit, Maia Hembruff and Emma Larsh placed third in its respective D Final. The top three boats were separated by a three-second margin.

In the Varsity 4+, the Rams were edged out by Jacksonville for a fourth-place D Final finish. Coxswain Evelyn Tabor, stroke Emily Olin, Irma Accius, Abby Galayda and Emma Brookins fought hard in the final 500m before crossing the finish line just four seconds after the Dolphins. 

Texas captured the team points trophy with 130 total, followed by Stanford (127 points) and Tennessee (118 points). 

Rhode Island will now set its sights on the Henley Regatta, which will take place on the Thames River in Henley-On-Thames, England. Racing at the Women's Regatta will take place from June 21-23, while the Royal Regatta is scheduled for July 2-7. For more information and to support the Rams in their international efforts, click HERE. 

Rhode Island Results
Varsity 8+ - D Final
1. Rhode Island - 6:40.2
2. Boston University - 6:41.9
3. Jacksonville - 6:46.0
4. SMU - 6:47.5

Second Varsity 8+ - D Final
1. Northeastern - 6:53.2
2. SMU - 6:54.3
3. Rhode Island - 6:56.2
4. Jacksonville - 7:06.1

Varsity 4+ - D Final
1. SMU - 7:40.3
2. Northeastern - 7:42.0
3. Jacksonville - 7:48.9
4. Rhode Island - 7:52.9 

Team Points Trophy Standings
1. Texas - 130
2. Stanford - 127
3. Tennessee - 118
4. Princeton - 112
5. Washington - 106
6. Brown - 99
7. Michigan - 90
8. Yale - 88
9. California - 84
10. Penn - 77
11. Syracuse - 76
12. Ohio State - 68*
13. Virginia - 68*
14. Rutgers - 55
15. Indiana - 47
16. Duke - 46
17. Gonzaga - 37
18. Northeastern - 26
19. Boston University - 24
20. Rhode Island - 17
21. SMU - 13
22. Jacksonville - 10