Rhode Island Starters
Habib, Mbu, Syla, Gray, Vital

Rutgers Starters
Ivey, Ndiaye, Perkins, Lester, Walker

How it Happened
Rhode Island stayed close but ultimately fell at Rutgers 68-63 Thursday afternoon.

The Rams (3-1) managed to make it a one-possession game in the final minute on a Brooklyn Gray 3-pointer with 1:11 to go. However, Rutgers (3-1) got a driving layup from Janae Walker to make it a five-point game, and URI was unable to mount a final push.

The key stretch was the final minute of the first half. After Rhode Island made the score 32-31 on a Syla layup, the host Scarlet Knights scored eight unanswered points in the final 54 seconds to carry a 40-31 lead into halftime. Nene Ndiaye (game-high 24 points) had a layup and then a 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions before Kaylah Ivey hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to cap the run.

The Rhody deficit grew to as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but the Rams kept making mini pushes to claw their way back in. The Rams cut the lead to four points on multiple occasions before Gray made it 62-59 with her 3-pointer with 1:11 to go. However, the Rams could not come up with defensive stops in the final minute as Rutgers outscored URI 7-4 in the last 39 seconds to hold on for the win.

Inside the Box Score

• Brooklyn Gray scored a team-high 18 points and was 7-for-8 at the free throw line.
• Palmire Mbu had 17 points, including 13 in the first half when she carried the offensive load.
• She was 6-of-9 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from the arc. Mbu also had five rebounds.
• Vanessa Harris was the third Ram in double digits, scoring 13 points to go with three assists.
• Albina Syla added six points and 10 rebounds.
• The Ram defense forced 15 turnovers while URI committed just seven.
• Rutgers outrebounded Rhode Island 40-27.

Up Next
Rhode Island is back in the Ryan Center to host UAlbany on Saturday, Nov. 15. Game time is 5:30 p.m. on ESPN+.