University of Rhode Island

Rhode Island Starters
Newson, Stewart, Borrellas, Vital, Hill

No. 24 West Virginia Starters
Cooke, Ngodu, Harris, Forbes, Walton

How it Happened 
Rhody battled, but it fell 68-64 at No. 24 West Virginia Tuesday night in the season opener and debut for head coach Colleen Mullen.

Rhode Island started the game hot from the floor, scoring eight straight points to go into the first media timeout up 16-10. The Rams were sharing the ball, led by point guard Sophia Vital's five first-quarter assists. Rhody finished the period with 10 assists on 10 made field goals. URI built its lead to as many as seven points in the first 10 minutes of play after an Alex Newson 3-pointer put the Rams up 19-12. The nationally-ranked Mountaineers closed the quarter scoring four straight points to cut the deficit to two (24-22). 

That hot shooting by the Rams went cold in the second quarter. After scoring 24 first-quarter points, Rhody was limited to just 1-of-9 from the floor by West Virginia in the second period. URI was unable to get anything going offensively as the Mountaineers built a nine-point lead going into halftime (39-30).

Out of the locker room, West Virginia pushed its lead to 14, but the Rams wouldn't quit. Delanie Hill knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a 10-point game at 48-38. However turnovers would doom the visitors, as Rhody racked up six turnovers to close the quarter and find itself in a 52-40 hole.

The Mountaineers looked in position to put the game away after a Gia Cooke 3-pointer put the hosts up 17 (60-43). But Rhody wasn't done, as it used a 10-0 run to get within seven (60-53) with 2:56 to play. Cooke sunk her third trey of the game to push the Mountaineers back up 10. Rhody kept the lead under 10 with a minute to play, even cutting the deficit to four points after Alex Newson sank a 3-pointer to make the score 68-64 with 14 seconds left.

In the final possession of the game, the Rams forced a Mountaineer turnover - their 17th of the game - and Hill was able to get a shot off, but it didn't fall and the clock hit zero for the 68-64 final.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island junior Delanie Hill had a team-high 26 points. She connected on a career-best 7-of-10 from long range and added three rebounds and a steal.
• The seven 3-pointers matched the program record. 
• Senior point guard Sophia Vital dished out nine assists. She finished with eight points after playing nearly the full 40 minutes on the floor (39:17).
• Freshman Alex Newson had an impressive debut, earning the start and scoring 12 points on 4-of-7 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from downtown. 
• Sophomore Amaya Stewart had an efficient eight points on 4-of-5 from the floor and added eight rebounds. 
• The Rams dished out 18 assists, In the first quarter, Rhody had 10 assists and 10 field goals made.
• The game was the first for head coach Colleen Mullen with Rhode Island. 

Up Next
The Rams return to action Friday against Columbia for the Opening Statement Tournament hosted by Belmont in Nashville, Tenn. at 6:00 p.m. EST. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.