The Rams had a bit of a turbulent opening month, starting the season with an unsettling record of 2-3. However, with a favorable slate of games in December before the season hits full swing for conference play, Rhode Island will look to improve. Here is a look at what the University of Rhode Island has been able to muster in November.
Nov. 13 Syracuse: Loss 57-54
URI, coming off a big turnaround in the 2014-15 season, embraced a difficult home matchup against then-no. 23 Syracuse, whom they led in the fourth quarter. The game, for the most part, fell right down the middle, with neither team pulling ahead early. The Rams surged ahead in third quarter, as last season’s freshmen sensation Charise Wilson shot lights out from everywhere on the floor, treating the home crowd to a magnificent third-quarter display of 15 points. URI took a five-point lead into the final 10 minutes. Wilson suddenly became silent and, in turn, so did the Rams, who watched their lead vanish as the game reached its thrilling conclusion. They lost the lead for the final time around the five minute mark, and fell behind again. A steal by Tayra Melendez gave URI one last chance to send the game to overtime, but Wilson could not convert on the potential game-tying 3-pointer; resulting in a loss, but one that shows they are capable of competing with quality talent.
Nov. 18 Marshall: Loss 72-62
Following the bitter defeat, URI went on the road to face the still undefeated Marshall Thundering Herd. They trampled the Rams early in a one-sided first quarter that left URI trailing by 13. The sizable deficit was cut to six at half, and after no change in the third the Rams were done in by fouls. There were 19 free throw attempts in the final frame that gave the Herd an opportunity to seal the victory, which was further made manageable by sloppy ball control by URI that resulted in six untimely turnovers in the quarter. Big games by sophomore guard Dominique Ward and senior forward Samantha Tabakman, who made her presence known with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, was not enough to combat Marshal’s loaded offensive arsenal that consisted of four players with double-figures in scoring. The differentials in turnovers, 21-12, and free throws, 20-31 versus 6-12, prevented the Rams from garnering enough momentum to make the game theirs.
Nov. 21 Harvard: Win 56-52
URI earned their first win of the season in the Tip-Off Classic, edging out Harvard in the Ryan Center, on the strength of another Tabakman double-double and a whopping 15-point first half by the emerging Ward. The Rams struggled to connect from long range, shooting 4-20 behind the 3-point line, and were forced to do their damage in the paint, where they generated more than half of their offense. It was a closely contested matchup, with both teams tied 48-48 with less than five minutes remaining in the game. URI got back in the driver’s seat after a mini 5-0 run by Tabakman and late free throws clinched the win. The shooting effort as a whole was a usually insufficient 31 percent from the floor, but the stifling defense, led by Wilson’s six steals, kept the Crimson at bay.
Nov. 22 Albany: Loss 67-58
URI hoped to build on their momentum as the tournament continued the next afternoon, but fell victim to a stout Albany frontcourt that carried them to a road victory. The shooting woes continued for Rhode Island, but a 10-point first half by Ward, who followed up her career-high of 19 points with 16, had them only down by two. The Great Danes erupted in the second half, shooting a scorching 71 percent. Rams playmaker Wilson did her best to compensate for an abysmal first half, but her 11-point fourth quarter that helped the Rams pull within three with only 30 seconds left on the clock. Yet this was no answer for forward Shereesha Richards, who lit up the scoreboard all day for 31 points. Albany stretched it back to five with free throws on the next possession, and two costly URI turnovers put the game out of reach. Tabakman turned in another impressive showing with 17 points, but was limited to only five rebounds. The Great Danes dominated the rebound battle, 38-22, and in general thrived in the paint area scoring 50 points.
Nov. 28 UMass Lowell: Win 72-64
URI, after a battle-tested first few games that had them suffer three defeats, all of which could have been theirs had they put forth a competent shooting display, found their offensive rhythm in a much needed home matchup against the winless UMass Lowell. It looked to be a good pick-me-up game for the Rams, but they trailed early, as they continued to struggle with the three ball, shooting a usually detrimental 7-31 in the game. They looked to their defense for compensation, and turned 26 turnovers into an opportune 28 points. The Rams held a three-point lead at half and extended it to an insurmountable 10-point deficit in the fourth. Tabakman again led the way with 17 points and crashed the boards with eight rebounds, five of them offensive. Melendez was also a key contributor with 11 points and eight boards, continuing to be a valuable asset off the bench.