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

Richmond Starters
Sweeney, Ullstrom, Hill, Budnik, Doogan

How it Happened
First-place Richmond was too much for Rhode Island to handle, as the Spiders defeated URI 79-56 Sunday afternoon. The loss snapped Rhody's modest three-game winning streak.

With Maddie Doogan (17 points) controlling the middle, it opened the floor for her Spider teammates. Richmond (18-5, 9-1 Atlantic 10) shot 11-for-20 from the arc as a team, with 10 different Spiders making at least one from long range.

Rhode Island (11-12, 6-4 Atlantic 10) dug itself an early hole with sloppy play, turning the ball over on its first three possessions. It led to a 10-2 start for Richmond, which scored 11 points off turnovers in the first quarter while building a 17-9 lead.

After falling behind by as many as 12 in the second quarter, Rhode Island began to chip away. Rhody's defense sparked a 15-6 run that got the Rams within three points. URI held Richmond to 1-for-9 from the floor over a six-minute span, getting three blocked shots during the stretch. An Anaelle Dutat 3-pointer made the score 29-26 with 20 seconds to go in the half. However, Richmond's Faith Alston drained a 3-pointer of her own just before the buzzer to push the lead to six heading into the break.

Richmond opened the second half with a 10-2 run to extend its lead to 14 points, moving ahead 42-28 four minutes into the third. The Spiders outscored Rhody 25-13 in the quarter to put the game away. As a team, the Spiders were 7-of-9 from the floor, 3-for-3 from the arc and 8-for-9 at the line as the Rams could not slow the Spiders down.

Rhode Island got the deficit down to 13 multiple times in the fourth quarter, but it never truly threatened the lead.

Inside the Box Score

• Richmond had a 20-9 edge in points off turnovers, with 11 of the points coming in the first quarter.
• Rhode Island attempted just one free throw, which came from Albina Syla with 33 seconds to go. Richmond was 12-for-13 at the stripe.
• Center Harsimran "Honey" Kaur led Rhode Island with 14 points and seven rebounds.
• She was 4-for-7 from 3-point range.
• Forward Palmire Mbu had 11 points, three rebounds and three blocked shots.
• Forward Hawa Komara was the third Ram in double figures, finishing with 12 points. She had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting in the first half.
• Point guard Sophia Vital had three points, five rebounds, five assists and a career-high five steals.
• Rhode Island had a 17-4 edge in second-chance points.

Up Next
Rhode Island is home to host Duquesne on Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 6:35 p.m.