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

Richmond Starters
Brown, Denis, Koerkenmeier, Nelson, Nugent

How it Happened
Behind a strong defensive performance, Rhode Island won its 15th consecutive game, beating Saint Louis 74-43 on Sunday afternoon at the Ryan Center. 

Rhode Island (21-2, 12-0 Atlantic 10) recorded nine steals and forced 14 Saint Louis turnovers, paving the way to the victory. 

Saint Louis (11-15, 5-8 Atlantic 10) hit four of its first six shots, jumping out to a 10-2 lead in the opening five minutes. Despite missing its first seven field goal attempts, Rhode Island settled in midway through the opening quarter. The Rams first made field goal came from Albina Syla with 4:11 to go in the first. Rhody continued to crawl back into the game with its defense, forcing Saint Louis to just one make in its final 10 attempts of the first quarter. A Palmire Mbu 3-pointer and a Valentina Ojeda layup in the final minute of the quarter helped the Rams tie the game at 13-13 by the end of the period. 

The strong defensive effort from Rhode Island carried into the second quarter. The Rams held Saint Louis to five points in the second quarter leading to a nine-point advantage for the home team at the half, 27-18.

A Zya Nugent 3-pointer brought Saint Louis within eight midway through the third quarter. That was the closest the Billikens got to Rhode Island the rest of the way. Mary-Kate Tshibuabua hit a layup with less than a minute remaining in the fourth to give Rhode a 35-point lead, it's largest of the afternoon.

Inside the Box Score

• Despite shooting 35 percent from the field in the first half, Rhode Island finished the game shooting 45 percent from the field.
• URI had nine steals. It was the eighth time the team has recorded that mark or higher this season.
• The Rams had no first-half turnovers and finished the game with just six.
• Rhode Island outscored Saint Louis in the paint 42-18.
• Rhode Island was perfect from the free throw line for the second time this season finishing 11-of-11. 
• Sophia Vital was the game-high scorer with 15 points, adding five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. 
• Valentina Ojeda set a new season-high with 13 points to go with one block and one steal.
• Albina Syla recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She added two steals.
• Syla's double-double was her fourth of the season and her career.
• Mary-Kate Tshibuabua saw her first action of the season. 
• Tshibuabua scored a career-high 11 points and matched her career-high in rebounds with five.
• Vanessa Harris added eight points and five rebounds.
• Palmire Mbu tacked on five points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block.
• Ines Debroise contributed four points, three rebounds, and seven assists. 

Up Next
Rhode Island hosts VCU on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The game tips at 6 p.m. and will stream on ESPN+ and the Varsity Network.