URI Women’s Basketball Advances to Super 16 of WNIT

The perimeter shooting of Rhode Island paved the way for the program’s first trip to the WNIT Super 16 as URI defeated Richmond 74-64 Monday night.

Half of URI’s field goals came from beyond the arc, as the Rams (26-6) made 13 3-pointers. Sophie Phillips (3-for-3) and Emmi Rinat (2-for-4) combined for five in the second quarter to spark the Rams. Richmond (21-11) led 23-19 with 7:08 left in the second quarter before Phillips drained her first 3-pointer to start a 15-0 run. Phillips and Rinat scored the first 13 points in the swing before Hawa Komara hit a layup to put the Rams up 34-23. The teams traded baskets over the final three minutes of the quarter, and URI carried a 40-30 lead into the break.

Richmond came out hot to open the third quarter, using a 9-4 run in the opening three minutes to trim the Rhody advantage to five points. However, Rhode Island responded with 3-pointers from Sayawni Lassiter and Dolly Cairns to start another run. URI outscored the Spiders 16-6 over the final seven minutes of the third, closing with 3-pointers from Rinat and Cairns to build the lead back to 60-45. From there, the lead never left double digits as the Rams moved on to the Super 16.

Inside the Box Score
The 13 3-point shots for Rhode Island tied for the fifth most in a single game in program history.
It is the sixth time this season URI has made 11 or more 3-pointers in one game, all of which rank in the top 10 team performances in program history.
Sophomore Sophie Phillips scored a game-high 20 points off the bench, shooting 7-of-10 from the field. She made six 3-pointers, tying her for the second most in a single game in URI history.
Phillips has 72 3-pointers this season, which is the second most in team history. Charise Wilson made 82 in 2015-16.
Sophomore Emmi Rinat added 13 points, five assists and four rebounds off the bench.
URI’s reserves combined for 41 points.
Junior Mayé Touré had 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks, giving the Rams a third double-digit scorer.
Junior Dolly Cairns had eight points and three rebounds.
Graduate students Sayawni Lassiter and Madison Hattix-Covington each scored seven points.
Lassiter added five rebounds and four assists.
Freshman Anaelle Dutat had seven rebounds – five on the offensive end – along with four points.
Rhode Island outrebounded Richmond 42-22.
The Rams scored 17 second-chance points on 17 offensive rebounds.
URI had 21 assists on 26 field goals.
What’s Next
Rhode Island will play at Harvard on Thursday, March 23 for a spot in the WNIT Great 8. Game time is 7 p.m.