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

La Salle Starters
Macktoon, Patnode, Quinn, Connor, Williams

How it Happened
An uncharacteristic cold spell to open the fourth quarter doomed Rhode Island as its historic 17-game win streak was ended with a 63-59 loss at La Salle Wednesday night.

Rhode Island (23-3, 14-1 Atlantic 10) led 46-39 heading into the final 10 minutes. La Salle (15-11, 8-7 A-10) scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter as part of a 17-4 run overall to take a 54-50 lead midway through the final period. An Aryss Macktoon shot in the lane gave the Explorers their largest lead of the night. Palmire Mbu made two free throws to get the game back to two points for URI.

On the next La Salle possession, Mbu forced Williams to travel, getting the ball back for Rhody. She then hit a contested jumper to tie the game and give Rhode Island its first field goal of the quarter with 4:12 remaining in the period.

Ashley Connor as shot clock expired, 54-56. Sophia Vital responded with a quick layup to again knot the score. However, Joan Quinn hit a hoop-and-harm drive that resulted in Vital's fourth foul. Quinn converted the free throw for a 59-56 lead. After a miss by Brooklyn Gray, Mbu got the rebound and second-chance basket to make the score 59-58.

Again, La Salle extended to a three-point lead when Ashley Connor sank two free throws. Rhody came up empty despite two 3-point looks, and the Explorers had a three-point lead and the ball with less than two minutes to go. The URI defense forced a shot clock violation, and called timeout with 1:22 to go, needing a basket.

A 3-point attempt by Gray was off the mark, but URI got the rebound. However, an illegal screen on Syla gave La Salle the ball with just under a minute. Rhody came up with a stop, and Tammi Reiss called time with 24.3 seconds to go. The ball went to Harris for an isolation play, but La Salle's defense knocked the ball out of bounds with 16 seconds left. Gray and Valentina Ojeda both got 3-pointers off, but neither shot fell. Gray was fouled on the rebound and went to the line, but she made just 1-of-2 to make the score 61-59. La Salle got the rebound with 7.5 seconds left.

Ashleigh Connor was fouled by Debroise with 5.9 seconds left, and she made both free throws to ice the upset.

Inside the Box Score

• The loss also snapped Rhode Island's 11-game road winning streak.
• The Rams had an uncharacteristic 17 turnovers and 20 personal fouls.
• Albina Syla recorded her sixth double-double of the season, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
• Ines Debroise added 13 points, while Palmire Mbu had 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.
• Vanessa Harris had eight points and four rebounds off the bench.
• The Rams were just 3-for-15 from the arc.
• Joan Quinn led La Salle with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-12 shooting.

Up Next
Rhode Island is back in the Ryan Center Saturday to host Fordham. It will be URI's Senior Day. Game time is 1 p.m. on both ESPN+ and the Varsity Network.