Rhode Island Starters
Phillips, Komara, Dutat, Vital, Kaur
Saint Joseph's Starters
Brugler, Boslet, Ziegler, Casey, Smith
How it Happened
A late collapse cost No. 5 Rhode Island the chance for the upset as the Rams fell to No. 4 Saint Joseph's 53-50 in overtime of the quarterfinals Friday afternoon.
The Rams (17-16) held a 48-42 lead with 2:32 left in regulation, their biggest lead of the game. However, Saint Joseph's (22-8) cut that in half with a Gabby Casey 3-pointer just below the two-minute mark.
A traveling call on URI gave the ball right back to the Hawks. On the ensuing possession, Saint Joseph's missed three shots before Mackenzie Smith scored a fourth-chance layup to cut the lead down to one. The Hawks got 1-of-2 at the line from Smith with 10 seconds left to send the game to overtime.
Over the final 2:30 of regulation, Rhode Island was 0-for-3 from the field and 0-for-2 at the free throw line while turning the ball over twice and allowing three offensive rebounds.
The struggles continued in overtime. Saint Joseph's took a three-point lead 90 seconds in the period – all on free throws.
Anaelle Dutat got a basket to pull the Rams within one at 51-50 with 2:35 to go.
However, that was all the scoring Rhody could muster, as the Hawks escaped with the win.
Inside the Box Score
- Saint Joseph's had a 14-6 edge in second-chance points and a 26-20 advantage in points in the paint.
- The Hawks were 14-for-18 at the free throw line, compared to 4-for-8 for URI.
- Rhody doubled Saint Joseph's up from the perimeter, outscoring the Hawks 18-9 from long range.
- Rhody's bench provided 15 points, compared for four for Saint Joseph's.
- Both teams had 22 points off turnovers.
- Forward Anaelle Dutat led Rhode Island with 13 points to go with two steals.
- Freshman forward Palmire Mbu gave the team a lift with eight points and six rebounds off the bench.
- Guards Ines Debroise and Sophie Phillips both added seven points.
- Center Harsimran "Honey" Kaur had 10 points and seven rebounds.
- Point guard Sophia Vital had five points, five steals and three rebounds.