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

Providence Starters
Gueye, Gormley, Brown, Dunbar, Dinges

How it Happened
Rhode Island overcame two quarters of offensive struggled to rally and defeat in-state rival Providence 57-51 Wednesday night.

After doubling up the Friars 18-9 in the opening quarter, Rhode Island (9-2) scored just 13 points combined in the second and third periods.

The Rams led 26-20 at the half, but Providence (6-5) scored the first eight points of the half to take the lead. The Friars limited URI to 2-for-15 from the field as they built a 36-31 lead heading into the final quarter.

Rhody trailed by as many as seven when Payton Dunbar hit a floater to make the score 38-31. The Rams began chipping away behind freshman Vanessa Harris. She sank a 3-pointer and later had a steal and hoop-and-harm three-point play as part of an 11-4 run for Rhode Island that tied the score at 42-42.

The Friars got a free throw from Teneisia Brown to go up 43-42, but Brooklyn Gray came down and made two free throws at the other end to put URI up 44-43. Gray then had a steal, and Palmire Mbu came up with an offensive rebound. She was fouled and made 2-for-2 at the line to extend the lead to three points. After another defensive stop, Gray went back to the free throw line and made two more, making the score 48-43.

Vanessa Harris extended the lead to 50-43 with a layup before Ashley Dinges made a 3-pointer for the Friars. Harris came right back with a trey of her own before Payton Dunbar responded with another 3-pointer for Providence. That made the score 53-49 with 47.2 seconds to go.

Sophia Vital was fouled by the Friars and made 1-of-2 at the line before Teneisia Brown hit a layup to make the score 54-51. Vital was again fouled with 29 seconds left. she was again 1-for-2 for a 55-51 lead. The defense came up with a stop, and The Rams sealed the win with a pair of Valentina Ojeda free throws with 4.7 seconds to go.  

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island was 12-for-15 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter, helping the Rams outscore Providence by 11 points in the final 10 minutes.
• Brooklyn Gray had a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
• She was 7-for-7 from the free throw line.
• Vanessa Harris scored 12 points, all of which came in the second half.
• Valentina Ojeda had 10 points off the bench.
• She had scored nine points combined over the previous five games.
• After committing nine turnovers in the first half, Rhode Island had just two in the second half.
• URI's bench outscored the Providence bench 23-2
• URI improved to 5-1 in road games.
• The 9-2 start matches the best start in program history, matching the 2022-23 season in which Rhody finished 26-7.

Up Next
Rhode Island is off for the next nine days until Wagner comes to town on Friday, Dec. 19. The Education Day game will tip off at 11 a.m. on ESPN+.