By Shane Donaldson
Associate Athletic Director, Communication and New Media

KINGSTON, R.I. - One of the most decorated players in Rhode Island high school history, Lauren Bousquet takes pride in knowing she is representing her state when she puts on the University of Rhode Island colors.

"I wouldn't want to represent any other state than Rhode Island," the multi-time All-State selection out of Moses Brown said. "I was born here and grew up here my entire life. Every rec league, travel league and AAU team I've been on was in Rhode Island. I'm very big on community. Anywhere I go, people recognize me because this is such a small state. When I'm playing here, I know I'll get to see people who used to teach me, people who have coached me. This place is so close and tight knit."

A two-time Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year, Bousquet scored more than 2,000 career points. Her 42-point, 23-rebound performance in the 2026 state championship game - which happened in the Ryan Center - will be talked about for years to come. And yet, had it not been for a former URI men's basketball star, who knows if any of it would have happened for Bousquet.

The West Warwick native grew up dreaming of playing softball at the University of Florida. She was a dominant pitcher on the softball field, and a casual rec league basketball player in her younger years. That all changed when she met former Rhode Island star guard Dawan Robinson, a two-time All-Atlantic 10 performer during his own time with the Rams. Robinson - who scored more than 1,200 points and is still in the program top 10 with 151 career steals from 2002-06 - convinced Bousquet to join his AAU team.   

"I was scared, but my dad was adamant that I take on the opportunity," Bousquet said. "Ever since I met Dawan, it absolutely changed my life. He gave me the courage to truly take on basketball. Ever since then, I fell in love with the game. I joined his AAU team, and then he also started training me personally."

When it came time to choose a college destination, Bousquet initially committed to Marist. However, she eventually decommitted and was unsure what would come next. Then Colleen Mullen was named as the new head coach for URI, and Bousquet had a chance to stay closer to home.

"Obviously Dawan was very, very excited," Bousquet said of sharing the news with her mentor. "There was a long time where I didn't know where I was going to go. After I made the decision to decommit, I really didn't know what I was going to do. Dawan has always provided that guidance in life. He has been through this. He went to high school, then prep school, then college, then overseas. He has been through injuries. He has experienced every stage of being an athlete.

"He shared with me all his wisdom and experience, and through all of that, it led me here. When I told him my decision, he was so excited. I have pictures of me with him when I was in sixth grade, and now I'm going to be playing in the same place he did. It's an amazing thing."

From the moment she stepped on campus this summer, Bousquet knew she had made the right choice.

"The coaches are absolutely amazing, which I've known for a very long time. Coach Mullen is very persistent in what she wants," Bousquet said. "She brings a winning mentality, and she has been winning throughout her career. She loves to win, but she also loves the grind. That is what I am all about. It just seemed like a great fit because I could see we had a lot of the same qualities. We have the same type of aspirations and goals for life.

"Although I live 30 minutes from here, when I arrived on campus, I hit a reset button in a lot of different aspects. I am playing with a new team and I am a freshman, and I hit that reset button hard, but I feel like I already belong here. The collective mindset of everyone in this program is what makes that possible. We all want to win and are willing to put in the work to make that happen. My only personal goal is to push myself to get better every single day. The rest will take care of itself."

One thing Bousquet has learned during summer workouts is that her new teammates show up to work every day. There is a lunch pail approach to the group, something that resonates with Bousquet.

"Coming in as a freshman, there are certain things you pick up on right away. There is a grittiness about this group and the way they take the floor every day," Bousquet said. "It's not just coming from the seniors. We have a fairly young team, and all the young players have that dog in them. Everyone feels like they have been playing pro for a long time. It's such a good mindset. You listen to the other players talk, and they talk well about each other.

"When you are a freshman, you have to be smart about the things you pick up on. This group has made it easy for me. I've picked up on that dog mentality. Coach Mullen will say to us, if there are two minutes left in a drill or in practice, that is two minutes of opportunity."

Bousquet has a fellow Rhode Islander on the roster in Merrimack transfer and Narragansett native Mia Fiore.

"We have already connected about things like our favorite food spots and other smaller things in life," Bousquet said. "Taking a wider perspective on things, we are representing everyone in this state. Not everyone gets the chance to go out and explore different things like playing in the Atlantic 10. At least for me personally, that is huge for a Rhode Island kid. In Rhode Island, everyone knows everyone, but to go out and play in a bigger conference, it is amazing to have this opportunity."

 

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Catch up on the previous Summer Sessions features, written by Shane Donaldson:

Summer Sessions: Alex Newson

Summer Sessions: Queen Ikhiuwu

Summer Sessions: Martina Borrellas

Summer Sessions: Delanie Hill

Summer Sessions: Sophia Vital

Summer Sessions: Amaya Stewart