URI Loses First Atlantic 10 Game of the Season to Rival UMass

Rhode Island’s interior struggled on both ends of the floor in a 78-57 loss to Massachusetts Thursday night. The loss was URI’s first in Atlantic 10 play and also snapped its 12-game winning streak.

UMass (22-4, 12-1 A-10) opened the game with a 9-0 run and never relented. Rhode Island (21-4, 12-1 A-10) trailed by as many as 15 points before back-to-back Emmi Rinat 3-pointers got the Rams on track.

However, the Minutewomen dominated the paint scoring 20 of their 39 first half points in the paint, while taking control on the glass (28-17 advantage). The Rams used five 3-pointers to keep themselves within striking distance, but they went into the half trailing 39-28.

In the second half, Rhode Island managed to trim the deficit to nine points on three occasions in the third quarter. That was as close as it got. A 10-0 UMass run pushed the lead to 19 points with 3:43 left in the third, and the visitors maintained control the rest of the way.

Inside the Box Score
This was Rhode Island’s first loss in 13 games at the Ryan Center this season.
UMass controlled the boards, holding a 51-29 advantage on the glass. The Minutewomen had 21 offensive rebounds helped them score 21 second-chance points.
UMass also had a 38-16 edge in points in the paint.
Sophomore Sophie Phillips was the only Ram in double figures with 12 points. She added three assists.
Sophomore Emmi Rinat finished with nine points, two rebounds, and an assist.
Graduate student Sayawni Lassiter had eight points, six assists, and three rebounds.
Junior Mayé Touré added five points and eight rebounds.
The game had a season-high attendence of 2,422.
What’s Next
Rhode Island plays at Saint Joseph’s Sunday, Feb. 19. Game time is 2 p.m. on ESPN+.