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RHODE ISLAND VS. VCU - Series notes 

• Wednesday will be the battle of the Rams, as Rhode Island makes the trip to face VCU at the Siegel Center. 
• Rhody is 3-10 all-time against VCU. All three Rhody wins have come under head coach Tammi Reiss. 
• It's the first of two meetings between Rhode Island and VCU this season. VCU makes the trip to Kingston on Feb. 11.
• Last season, Rhody beat VCU 64-50 in Richmond (1/15/25).
• URI has won its last two straight games at the Siegel Center.
• Rhode Island grad transfer Valentina Ojeda spent two years at VCU. 

SCOUTING THE (VCU) RAMS

• VCU beat Duquesne last time out, 61-54.
• The victory was the second straight win for the Rams of RVA, who also handed Saint Louis a 50-39 defeat back on Jan. 7.
• VCU is 5-1 at the Siegel Center this season.
• The Rams have two averaging double figures in scoring: Mary-Anna Asare (17.4)  and Katarina Knezevic (11.0).
• Knezevic leads the team with 4.9 rebounds per game. 

(RV) RHODE ISLAND

• For the first time since the 2022-23 season, Rhode Island women's basketball earned votes in the latest AP Top 25 Poll, announced Monday. 
• The Rams received four votes behind West Virginia (41), Duke (41), North Carolina (21), Minnesota (12), Washington (11), Stanford (10), Utah (8), Southern Cal (4) and ahead of Georgia (3), Oregon (2), and NC State (2). 
• It's the most votes URI has received in the national poll, and the second time the Rams have caught national attention this season. 
• After Rhody upset then-No. 16 NC State, URI earned one vote in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
• The Rams have won the last eight straight games, and moved to 5-0 in Atlantic 10 play following wins over George Washington and St. Bonaventure last week.

VITAL IS VITAL

• Rhode Island guard Sophia Vital has been playing her best basketball to start Atlantic 10 play. 
• The 5'3 guard is leading the Rams with 7.4 rebounds per game in A-10 action.
• In the win at George Washington, Vital had her first career double-double, pairing a season-high 19 points with a career-best 14 rebounds. 
• In five conference games, she's averaging 11.6 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.4 steals. 
• Vital has been excelling on both ends of the floor, scoring in double figures in each of the last two games while recording nine steals on the defensive end.
• She was named to the Atlantic 10 Weekly Honor Roll for her efforts in the back-to-back wins over Richmond and Loyola Chicago.
• Vital attended Tabor Academy and was an AA NEPSAC Champion. 
• The guard played AAU with the Bay State Jaguars.