The University of Rhode Island women’s basketball team finished up its three-game homestand and stretched its record-breaking winning streak to 16 games with victories over Saint Louis University on Sunday and Virginia Commonwealth University on Wednesday.
Following a program-best 14th straight win on Feb. 4 against Saint Joseph’s University, Rhody continued their winning streak on Sunday afternoon at the Ryan Center with a 74-43 victory.
Hosting SLU, who limped into Kingston on a four-game losing streak, URI did not come out firing in the first quarter. The Rams missed their first seven field goal attempts, allowing the Billikens to jump out to a 10-2 lead halfway through the quarter.
Second-year center Albina Syla’s jump shot with 4:11 remaining marked a turning point, sparking the Rams to outscore the Billikens 11-3 in the remainder of the quarter. Despite shooting only 5-15 from the field, URI tied the score at 13 after the first frame.
Holding SLU to just two field goals in the second quarter, the Rams were able to put up 14 points, 12 of which were in the paint, finishing the half leading by nine.
Following another defensive effort in the third quarter, along with Syla’s 10-point performance, the Rams positioned themselves for a breakout offensive performance in the final quarter.
Third-year guard Sophia Vital, who finished with a team-best 15 points, started the quarter with a layup, and it was all Rhody from there. Fifth-year guard Valentina Ojeda and second-year forward Mary-Kate Tshibuabua made up 20 of the 26 bench points URI scored in the quarter.
“We’ve got five or six kids that can go on any given night, maybe seven,” URI Head Coach Tammi Reiss said. “So, it makes it really difficult to shut one or two people down. I’m really happy for [Tshibuabua] and [Ojeda] today. I thought they were outstanding off the bench.”
Rhody’s starters wasted no time in setting the tone for the second game of their homestand against the visiting Rams, jumping out to a 22-2 start, featuring three triples from fourth-year guard Brooklyn Gray. Capped off by an Ojeda three-pointer, the Rams finished the first quarter up 29-6.
URI scored five from beyond the arc in the first quarter, tying the number of total three-pointers made in the contest with SLU.
Gray picked up right where she left off, converting a triple in transition two minutes into the second quarter.
Steady play from the Rams concluded the first half with 49% shooting from the field, leading 45-17. VCU finished the half 26% from the field.
Second-year forward Palmire Mbu led Rhode Island in scoring in the third quarter with nine points on 3-4 shooting from the field. URI’s defense held VCU to that many points total in the quarter.
Rhody fourth-year guard Ines Debroise and Vital threaded the opposing Rams’ defense in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, combining for nine points. Second-year guard Eva Agba’s second-chance layup with 6:35 to go gave Rhody their biggest lead of the evening, 51.
While VCU nearly outscored URI in the fourth with just one point of separation, Rhode Island had its second-highest scoring performance of the season, behind a 105-49 contest with Division III opponent Emmanuel College.
Despite allowing more points than in their first meeting with VCU on Jan. 14 in a 47-41 win, the Rams outscored VCU by 43 points, finishing the contest with an 85-42 score.
First-year guard Vanessa Harris finished with a team-high 16 points as the Rams maintained their undefeated status in conference play.
“You’re successful when the players lead, and they hold each other accountable, and our team does that now,” Reiss said. “That’s what makes championship teams. When I don’t have to worry about my locker room at all.”
The Rams, 13-0 in conference play for the first time in program history, will face off against George Mason University on Saturday at 3 p.m., which is available for streaming on ESPN+ and on the radio on The Varsity Network.
