URI Women’s Basketball Preseason Favorite In Atlantic 10, Four Rams Earn Preseason Honors

Nick Coit,
Uri Wbb Poll 10 26

University of Rhode Island Press Release

KINGSTON, R.I. – Rhode Island Women’s Basketball was picked as the Atlantic 10 Preseason favorites with 218 points and 12 first-place votes, it was announced Thursday. The Rams, coming off a share of the first 2022-23 A-10 Regular Season Championship in program history, also had four players featured on the Preseason All-Conference Teams. Senior Mayé Touré, the 2022-23 Most Improved Player of the Year, earned a spot on the Preseason All-Conference First Team, while Syracuse transfer Teisha Hyman’s stats from her season last year with the Orange placed her on the All-Conference Second Team. Senior Tenin Magassa was named to the All-Conference Third Team for the second straight year, and sophomore Anaelle Dutat turned in an impressive rookie season to earn a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Touré had a breakout season in 2022-23. Her offense exploded: after being limited to 2.4 points and 3.9 boards in 9.3 minutes per game in 2021-22, Touré earned her role as starter last season, contributing 13.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during the regular season. The Athis-Mons, France product finished the regular season with 12 double-doubles, entering the year with just one career double-double to her name. She improved her shooting as well: she finished the season first in the league in shooting from the floor. Her efforts to lead Rhode Island to their best season in program history also earned her a spot on the All-Conference First-Team for the first time in her career.Hyman joins the Rams after spending the last four years at ‘Cuse. In 2022-23, she averaged 10.4 points per game. The White Plains, N.Y. native added 4.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 26.1 minutes, and earned a spot on the All-ACC Women’s Basketball Academic Team for the third time in her career. She was ranked as the No. 33 women’s basketball transfer in the portal according to ESPNW. Magassa battled injury in her first season with the Rams, but still managed 5.1 points in a limited 14 games. Through those 14 games, the Dayton transfer blocked 18 shots, including a season-high five blocks in the regular season finale against her former Flyers. Dutat is the lone sophomore on the five-member All-Defensive Team. The France native was a defensive menace in her first season in Kingston. Head coach Tammi Reiss calls Dutat Rhody’s own “Dennis Rodman”; she owned the boards last year, collecting double-digit rebounds in eight games. All season long, her impact went deeper than scoring. The Rams were 17-3 when Dutat had at least five boards. At the A-10 Tournament, she stepped up with her first two career starts. During those two starts, the France native totaled 21 rebounds, 14 points, seven steals, and two blocks.In head coach Tammi Reiss‘ first season leading the Rams, Rhody was picked to finish 12th in the league. Now entering year five, Reiss has led the Rams to a preseason No. 1 pick. The Rams open the 2023-24 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 7 against Sacred Heart. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. Season tickets, flex packages, and single game tickets are on sale now. 2023-24 Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll

  1. Rhode Island (12)        218
  2. Saint Joseph’s             203
  3. Saint Louis (2)             186
  4. Richmond                    176
  5. Duquesne (1)              172
  6. George Washington    150
  7. Davidson                     124
  8. George Mason             111
  9. Dayton                        100
  10. VCU                             96
  11. Massachusetts            70
  12. La Salle                        66
  13. Fordham                     54
  14. St. Bonaventure          39
  15. Loyola Chicago            35

Preseason All-Conference First-TeamElle Sutphin                 DavidsonMegan McConnell       DuquesneMayé Touré                Rhode IslandAddie Budnik              RichmondTalya Brugler               Saint Joseph’sKyla McMakin             Saint Louis Preseason All-Conference Second TeamNya Robertson            George WashingtonTeisha Hyman             Rhode IslandMaggie Doogan          RichmondLaura Ziegler               Saint Joseph’sSarah Te-Biasu            VCUJulia Martinez             Saint Louis Preseason All-Conference Third TeamSuzi-Rose Deegan       DavidsonMariah Perez              DaytonNalani Kaysia               George MasonMayowa Taiwo           George WashingtonTenin Magassa            Rhode IslandMakenzie Smith          Saint Joseph’s Preseason All-Defensive TeamMegan McConnell      DuquesneMayowa Taiwo           George WashingtonAnaelle Dutat              Rhode IslandKennedy Calhoun        Saint LouisJulia Martinez             Saint Louis

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