URI Women’s Basketball Knocks Off Fordham, Clinches First Winning Season In 11 Years

Ken Bell

University of Rhode Island Press Release

Rhody Starters
Melendez, Wilson, Bullard, Lewis, Tabakman

Fordham Starters
Tapio, Ruffin, Burns, Clark, Missry

How It Happened
Rhode Island knocked off the defending Atlantic 10 champion Fordham, 71-56, to clinch its first winning regular season in 11 years Sunday.

Trailing by four at halftime, Rhode Island (15-9, 7-5 A-10) came charging out of the gates to start the second half. The Rams opened with a 10-2 run to pull in front 38-34.

A 3-point shot by Teneka Whittaker gave URI a 10-point lead with 10:01 to go. From there, Fordham (17-8, 9-3 A-10) never got closer than seven points, as Rhode Island continued to apply pressure on offense, outscoring Fordham 43-24 after halftime.

Inside the Box Score

  • Junior Samantha Tabakman scored a game- and season-high 22 points, 12 of which came in the first five minutes of the game. She also had seven rebounds and three steals.
  • It was the fourth time in five games Tabakman reached double digits in scoring.
  • Junior Tayra Melendez just missed her second career double-double, scoring 18 points and nine rebounds. 
  • Tabakman and Melendez combined to shoot 14-for-16 from the field and 11-for-12 from the free throw line.
  • Junior Symone Bullard was the third Ram in double digits. She had 11 points, four assists and three rebounds.
  • Junior Brianna Thomas gave Rhody key minutes off the bench in the first half, recording two assists and a pair of rebounds in 12 minutes.
  • Freshman Charise Wilson finished with nine points, five steals, five assists and two rebounds. It was the fifth time this season Wilson has had at least four steals.
  • As a team, Rhode Island finished with 12 steals – its 11th game with double-digit swipes.
  • URI connected on just 3-of-7 free throws in the first half, but recovered to shoot 14-for-16 from the line after the break.
  • The 71 points scored by Rhode Island were the most allowed by Fordham since its season opener, a 72-51 loss to Iona.

Stat of the Game
15 – With its 15th victory of the season, Rhode Island clinched a winning record in the regular season for the first time since the 2003-04 season, when the Rams went 16-13.

What’s Next
Rhode Island now hits the road for a pair of away games at La Salle (Feb. 19) and Duquesne (Feb. 22).

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