URI Women’s Basketball Goes 2-0 at Las Vegas Tournament
Saturday, November 25, 2023
The University of Rhode Island women’s basketball team defeated Portland 64-58 Saturday afternoon to win both of its games at the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.
The Rams (5-2) found themselves in an 11-point hole to start the game as Portland (3-4) forced five Rhode Island turnovers in the first three minutes of play. Maisie Burnham hit a pair of 3-point shots and Kennedy Dickie added a third as Portland jumped out to a 13-2 lead just 4:11 into the game. Mayé Touré scored six points to spark a 12-4 run by the Rams to close out the quarter.
Another fast start by Portland to start the second quarter saw the deficit grow back to 11 points. Burnham hit another 3-pointer to cap a 10-2 run to start the period as Rhode Island fell behind, 27-16. URI steadily chipped away over the final seven minutes of the half. Two Hawa Komara free throws, a 3-pointer from Teisha Hyman and another long-range shot from Sophie Phillips keyed an 8-0 run to get Rhody within 27-24. Another Phillips trey got the Rams within one possession at 29-27, but URI could not close the gap further and found itself down 34-30 heading to the break.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPortland opened the second half with a Lucy Cochrane jumper that put the Pilots up by six points. From there the Rams took over. Hyman scored six straight points to tie the score 36-36. Portland scored the next three points, but a Touré hookshot followed by a layup from Anaelle Dutat gave Rhode Island its first lead of the game at 40-39 with 5:55 to go in the third. Back-to-back baskets from Tenin Magassa stretched the lead to 44-39, and it helped the Rams take a 47-44 lead into the final period.
In the final quarter, Portland closed within two points on a jumper from Kianna Hamilton-Fisher with 6:58 to go. However, four URI free throws – two each from Tenin Magassa and Hyman – built the lead back to six at 56-50. The Hyman free throws came after a technical foul was called on the Portland head coach.
Both teams struggled down the stretch. Rhody went 3:25 without a point until Touré hit a free throw with 1:47 to go. It didn't matter, as Portland went scoreless for 6:07 down the stretch before Dickie made a pair of free throws. By that point, the result was secure as the Rams won their second straight game. A late 3-pointer by Portland made the final score closer than the result truly was.
Inside the Box Score
Rhode Island has won at least five games before the end of November for the third straight season. The Rams were 7-1 in the opening month in 2021-22, 5-1 last season and 5-2 thus far this year.
Rhody has one more November game this season, as it hosts Quinnipiac on Nov. 30.
Forward Mayé Touré had 13 points, six rebounds and four steals before she fouled out.
Guard Teisha Hyman scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed six boards.
Center Tenin Magassa had eight points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots in 15 minutes.
Guard Sophie Phillips scored nine points and had two assists. She hit three 3-point shots, giving her eight from beyond the arc over the last two games.
Guard Dee Dee Davis had six points and three assists.
Forward Anaelle Dutat scored seven points and had five rebounds off the bench.
Guard Ines Debroise had five points and five rebounds, with all five of her points coming from the free throw line.
Rhode Island had a 46-36 edge on the boards.
Next:
The Rams return home to host Quinnipiac on Thursday, Nov. 30. Game time is 6 p.m. and the action will be streamed on ESPN+.
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