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

St. Bonaventure Starters
Robinson, Pettinelli, Parker, Drake, MacDonough

How it Happened
Rhode Island used another fourth-quarter surge to beat St. Bonaventure at the Ryan Center Saturday. The Rams improved to 5-0 in Atlantic 10 play and won their eighth game in a row with the victory.

St. Bonaventure forced a fast, turnover-filled opening quarter and led Rhode Island 10-4 in the first quarter, capitalizing on early miscues. The Rams turned the ball over nine times in the first half. Rhode Island closed the gap late when Vanessa Harris knocked down a 3-pointer off a St. Bonaventure turnover, cutting the deficit to three after the first period (10-7).

Harris and Sophia Vital combined to score 11 points to put the Rams up six (20-14) in the second quarter. St. Bonaventure closed the gap late behind baskets from Brillana Boyd, Gabby Robinson and Elyse MacDonough, and Aaliyah Parker's layup in the final seconds cut the Rams' lead to 22-21 going into the break.

Rhode Island maintained control in the third quarter, fending off a Bonnies push and extending its lead through balanced scoring and pressure defense. Vital opened the half with four straight free throws, while Brooklyn Gray and Palmire Mbu added baskets in the paint to keep the Rams in front as St. Bonaventure briefly cut the margin to one (30-29). URI responded with a key second-chance layup from Ta'Viyanna Habib and continued to capitalize at the line down the stretch, closing the period on a steady run to take a 40-31 advantage into the fourth.

The fourth quarter was all Rams, as Rhody outscored the visitors 26-14 and build its lead to as many as 24 points, cruising to its eighth win in a row.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island forced 18 turnovers, including 10 that led to 16 of the team's 22 points in the first half.
• URI had 26 points off turnovers compared to St. Bonaventure's 9.
• Rhode Island shot 50 percent from the field in the second half, improving on a 30 percent clip from the first half. 
• The Rams had 16 offensive rebounds, their fourth highest total on the year. 
• Sophia Vital had the game-high in points with 14, and added six rebounds, four assists, and three steals
• Brooklyn Gray scored 12 points, snagged four rebounds, and dished four assists. It was her fourth straight game scoring in double figures.
• Palmire Mbu contributed 12 points, eight rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal.
• Vanessa Harris chipped in 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals
• Ta'Viyanna Habib finished with nine points, three rebounds, and one steal. Her nine points are a new season high.
• The Rams improve to 7-1 at home on the year. 
• After committing nine turnovers in the first half, Rhody had just two miscues in the second 20 minutes of play.

Up Next
Rhode Island is back on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at VCU. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network at 7:00 p.m.