Spring Break
Women's basketball faces fourth consecutive loss
Matt Swiss
Issue date: 1/27/09 Section: Sports
01/27/09 - The University of Rhode Island women's basketball team fell to 8-11 overall and 1-3 in the A-10 conference after falling to No. 21 Xavier University 69-29. Saturday's loss in Ohio marked the lady Ram's fourth road loss of the season.
"Xavier is one of the top teams in our conference," head coach Tom Garrick said. "I'm not looking for moral victories. We just got overpowered from start to finish."
The victory marked Xavier's sixth win in the conference and the Musketeers eighth win in as many games. Xavier got off to an early 16-0 lead and never looked back from the start.
"It's very important to get out to a quick start," Garrick said, "but at some point skill level and size begins to take over."
Rhody showed some spark with just under six minutes remaining in the first half when a pair of jumpers by senior guard Sierra Cooper cut the lead to 18. Xavier answered quickly with a 6-3 run to push its lead to 21 entering the break.
"Preparation is always important," Garrick said. "We were trying to be aggressive but I think their strength was our weakness."
The Rams, who were led by junior guard Lindsay Harris' eight points and six rebounds, were outshot by nearly 33 percent from the field. Xavier dominated on the glass, as the Musketeers grabbed 26 more rebounds than Rhode Island, leading to a 34-point advantage in the paint.
"They just completely dominated us," Garrick said. "We couldn't get any rebounds and they were just a little too strong and too fast for what we had to offer."
Rhody's senior forward Ebony Evans contributed 12 solid minutes off the bench as she collected seven rebounds, five of them offensive, and added two points as well. Sophomore guard Megan Shoniker had a tough day from the field but dished out three assists and pulled down two rebounds, while senior guard Crystal Bellinger, who also struggled from the field, recorded three steals and three assists.
Rhode Island will look to forget about its poor shooting effort from Saturday's game when they travel to Philadelphia tonight to take on LaSalle University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
"With all due respect to them and us, I feel that LaSalle is a little bit closer to our level in A-10 play," Garrick said. "My expectations for the LaSalle game are the same as they are for every game, and that is to win."
"Xavier is one of the top teams in our conference," head coach Tom Garrick said. "I'm not looking for moral victories. We just got overpowered from start to finish."
The victory marked Xavier's sixth win in the conference and the Musketeers eighth win in as many games. Xavier got off to an early 16-0 lead and never looked back from the start.
"It's very important to get out to a quick start," Garrick said, "but at some point skill level and size begins to take over."
Rhody showed some spark with just under six minutes remaining in the first half when a pair of jumpers by senior guard Sierra Cooper cut the lead to 18. Xavier answered quickly with a 6-3 run to push its lead to 21 entering the break.
"Preparation is always important," Garrick said. "We were trying to be aggressive but I think their strength was our weakness."
The Rams, who were led by junior guard Lindsay Harris' eight points and six rebounds, were outshot by nearly 33 percent from the field. Xavier dominated on the glass, as the Musketeers grabbed 26 more rebounds than Rhode Island, leading to a 34-point advantage in the paint.
"They just completely dominated us," Garrick said. "We couldn't get any rebounds and they were just a little too strong and too fast for what we had to offer."
Rhody's senior forward Ebony Evans contributed 12 solid minutes off the bench as she collected seven rebounds, five of them offensive, and added two points as well. Sophomore guard Megan Shoniker had a tough day from the field but dished out three assists and pulled down two rebounds, while senior guard Crystal Bellinger, who also struggled from the field, recorded three steals and three assists.
Rhode Island will look to forget about its poor shooting effort from Saturday's game when they travel to Philadelphia tonight to take on LaSalle University. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
"With all due respect to them and us, I feel that LaSalle is a little bit closer to our level in A-10 play," Garrick said. "My expectations for the LaSalle game are the same as they are for every game, and that is to win."
