Photo by Kayla Michaud
The Rhode Island women’s basketball team lost a heartbreaker on Sunday on a last second layup by the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The Rams came into the game carrying a record of 3-18 while going 1-7 in Atlantic 10 play, putting them in last place in the standings. UMass, boasting a record of 9-11 and 1-6 in A-10 play, are two spots ahead.
The Rams came out cold shooting but Nicole Jorgensen rattled off eight straight points, including two and-one plays, to help put the Rams up at the end of the first quarter by a score of 16-14.
Jorgensen would finish with her fifth double-double of the season, compiling 22 points while shooting 10-23 to go along with 11 rebounds, both team highs.
The Rams would take a lead going into the half but not before UMass hit a jump shot right before time expired. UMass outscorded URI 12-11 in the second quarter.
In the start of the second half the two teams went back and forth. UMass took a five point lead four minutes into the third, but URI would respond with a 9-0 run to put them up 42-38 with two minutes remaining in the third. URI would lead by nine with five minutes left in the fourth.
The Rams would hold on to the lead for the rest of fourth until UMass freshman Bre Hampton-Bey threw a half court pass to a wide open Hailey Leidel underneath the basket with two seconds left to lay in the game winner as time expired.
“We fouled them way too many times and allowed them to put points on the board without the clock running, that really hurt us,” Rams Head Coach Daynia La-Force said. “We followed the game plan, they played with energy and effort right now and that’s kind of how we’re judging our wins and losses.”
After a lengthy review the basket was counted and gave UMass their second A-10 win, while the Rams suffered their eighth conference loss.
The leading scorer and rebounder for the Rams was Jorgensen, while the assist leader was redshirt sophomore Elemy Colome, who finished with four assists to go along with seven points, three rebounds and two steals.
La-Force also spoke on the team moving forward. “We can really beat anybody if we can control our mistakes and stay resilient,” she said.
Next up for the Rams they will travel to New York to take on the Rams of Fordham on Saturday, Feb. 4.