No. 11 Rhode Island Starters
Mbu, Syla, Vital, Gray, Debroise

No. 6 Alabama Starters
Scott, Collins, Cody, Weathers, Timmons

How it Happened
Rhode Island's historic season came to an end in the opening round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship Saturday afternoon, as the 11th-seeded Rams fell to No. 6 Alabama 68-55.

Rhody (28-5) played the Crimson Tide close through the opening quarter, as the teams were separated by just three points after the opening 10 minutes. Alabama (23-10) limited URI to one point over the first eight minutes of the second quarter, turning a 16-13 lead into a 30-14 edge before Albina Syla sank a couple free throws to get Rhode Island back on track.

Over the final two minutes of the half, URI went on an 8-1 run to get within 31-23 following an Ines Debroise jumper that capped the first-half scoring.

Rhody continued to chip away and got the deficit down to four points at 36-32 after a Debroise layup three minutes into the third quarter. However, Alabama went on a 12-0 run that pushed the lead up to 16 points. The game never got back to single digits, and the Crimson Tide advanced to the second round to face No. 3 Louisville in the Round of 32 on Monday.

Inside the Box Score

• Rhode Island was held to 32.8 percent from the field (19-of-58), including 6-of-23 from 3-point range.
• Alabama had a 42-12 edge in points in the paint.
• Albina Syla just missed her eighth double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds and three steals.
• Ines Debroise and Palmire Mbu each scored 11 points to lead the Rams.
• It was the 130th career game for Debroise, the most for any player in program history. The three-year captain finished her career second in URI history with 399 assists.
• Jessica Timmons led the way for Alabama with a game-high 21 points.
• Essence Cody added 19 and Diana Collins chipped in 16 for the Crimson Tide.
• Rhode Island head coach Tammi Reiss led the team to a program-record 28 victories and is a national semifinalists for the Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year.
• She also is one of five finalists for the Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Award.