The University of Rhode Island women’s basketball team saw its season come to an end on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The No. 11-seeded Atlantic 10 Conference champions took on the No. 6 seed University of Alabama and struggled to convert from the field in a 68-55 loss.
“We just didn’t shoot the ball well,” Rhode Island Head Coach Tammi Reiss said. “You’ve got to be able to put the ball in the hole and score a little bit more. I thought we got good shots. We just couldn’t put it in the hole today.”
Despite shooting just 33% from the field and 26% from distance, the Rams were within striking distance for the majority of the contest.
“We knew coming in it was going to be incredibly difficult,” Alabama Head Coach Kristy Curry said. “I know today is hard for [Rhode Island]. It’s not fun. There’s always going to be one of us that feels a little better. I just have a lot of respect for their program.”
Third-year forward Essence Cody was expected to be battling down low with Rhode Island’s second-year center Albina Syla, entering with just 10 three-point makes in 25 games. Instead, her first two field goal attempts came from three and cashed an early lead that Alabama never lost.
“I thought Essence had a great game today,” Reiss said. “I wish them the best of luck, and just really, really well-coached. Didn’t expect anything other than from Kristy Curry.”
Rhode Island’s first-year guard Vanessa Harris hit a last-second layup, breaking a streak of nine misses and leaving a one-possession deficit for the Rams after the first quarter.
The Rams didn’t see another field goal fall until 93 seconds remained in the second quarter. For nearly eight minutes, Rhode Island had just one point on a free throw from fourth-year guard Brooklyn Gray.
Fifth-year guard Valentina Ojeda came off the bench and got the much-needed first field goal of the quarter from three. The Rams were able to salvage the second quarter, finishing with 10 points.
Third-year Alabama guard Diana Collins put up eight points in the second, leading the Crimson Tide to a 16-point lead. Rhode Island’s late run left a 31-23 deficit heading into halftime.
Syla started the second half with two makes in the paint to put URI within four, but fifth-year guard Jessica Timmons took over to put Alabama right back up by 16. Back-to-back and one’s highlighted her 11 third-quarter points to take a 53-35 lead into the final quarter.
“Next thing you know, you look up, call in a timeout, you’re down 14,” Reiss said. “It goes that quick. It just was not being able to get over the hump, not being able to get a good stop and then put pressure on them and score.”
Rhody closed their season with their strongest quarter of the afternoon, putting up 20 points. It was too little, too late, as foul trouble also caught up to the Rams. Fourth-year guard Ines Debroise and third-year guard Sophia Vital both fouled out in the fourth.
Each shared a moment with Reiss on their way to the bench. For Debroise, it was the conclusion of a four-year career where she became the winningest player in program history.
“The first time we talked, me without speaking English, it was like about two minutes, but it felt like an hour for me,” Debroise said. “Just remembering every moment, every ups, downs we had, it was just meaning a lot for me and for Coach.”
It concludes a historic season, with the program’s second-ever March Madness appearance, and first in 30 years. The Rams set their single-season win record with 28 victories behind a program record 17-game winning streak.
“I’ve never been prouder of a group of young women than I am of this team,” Reiss said. “Although we didn’t get the result we wanted today, it doesn’t take anything away from what they’ve accomplished all season long together.”
Some longtime faces will be missing from the court and sideline next season, including Debroise and Rhode Island Associate Head Coach Adeniyi Amadou, who will begin his head coaching career at New Mexico State University next season after a decade alongside Reiss.
“I’ve never had a more satisfying season,” Reiss said. “It was a season full of joy, full of just compete, full of chemistry and culture. And above all, from our practice guys to our managers to our coaching staff to our players, a season full of love.”
