URI women's basketball takes split in Atlantic 10
Matt Swiss
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: Sports
Another constant for the Rams during their nine-game losing streak was being on the wrong end of a big second half run. Saturday, however, it was Rhode Island that responded to a 14-8 push by the Colonials with a 15-2 spurt of its own, jumping out to 50-43 lead.
"The ball bounced our way," King said. "We had some people step up and try to take a little bit more of a leadership role that in the beginning of the season they may not have been apt to take. It's tournament time and anything can happen. People can step up that you would never imagine to step up."
The Rams were outscored 15-12 during the final nine-and-a-half minutes of play, but GWU's push was not enough, as Rhody picked up its first victory since its 54-48 win against LaSalle University on Jan. 27.
The Rams then took on fourth-seeded Richmond University, which they had fallen to on their home court in February. Only once before in A-10 Conference Tournament history had a team beaten an opponent seeded eight spots higher than itself. Had Rhode Island beaten Richmond this past Sunday, it would have been the biggest upset since No.10 Duquesne University's victory over No.2 Charlotte University in the 2006 quarterfinals.
Rhody's backcourt led the way once again offensively, but came up short in a 64-48 defeat, as sophomore guard Megan Shoniker followed up her six-point, 10-rebound effort against GWU with a 14-point performance against the Spiders. Harris had her second straight great game as well, contributing nine points while grabbing 10 boards.
"They got a lot of easy points in transition," King said. "They had some decent steals and some leak-outs on the defensive end that hurt us."
Senior forward Sierra Cooper, who was held to just four points and three rebounds in Rhody's Feb. 14 loss to the Spiders, contributed six points in Sunday's loss. Cooper also added nine boards, helping her squad out-rebound Richmond, 41-32.
Despite the rebounding advantage, the Rams committed seven more turnovers than the Spiders did. This marked only the second game since Dec. 22 the Rams forced fewer turnovers than they committed.
"The ball bounced our way," King said. "We had some people step up and try to take a little bit more of a leadership role that in the beginning of the season they may not have been apt to take. It's tournament time and anything can happen. People can step up that you would never imagine to step up."
The Rams were outscored 15-12 during the final nine-and-a-half minutes of play, but GWU's push was not enough, as Rhody picked up its first victory since its 54-48 win against LaSalle University on Jan. 27.
The Rams then took on fourth-seeded Richmond University, which they had fallen to on their home court in February. Only once before in A-10 Conference Tournament history had a team beaten an opponent seeded eight spots higher than itself. Had Rhode Island beaten Richmond this past Sunday, it would have been the biggest upset since No.10 Duquesne University's victory over No.2 Charlotte University in the 2006 quarterfinals.
Rhody's backcourt led the way once again offensively, but came up short in a 64-48 defeat, as sophomore guard Megan Shoniker followed up her six-point, 10-rebound effort against GWU with a 14-point performance against the Spiders. Harris had her second straight great game as well, contributing nine points while grabbing 10 boards.
"They got a lot of easy points in transition," King said. "They had some decent steals and some leak-outs on the defensive end that hurt us."
Senior forward Sierra Cooper, who was held to just four points and three rebounds in Rhody's Feb. 14 loss to the Spiders, contributed six points in Sunday's loss. Cooper also added nine boards, helping her squad out-rebound Richmond, 41-32.
Despite the rebounding advantage, the Rams committed seven more turnovers than the Spiders did. This marked only the second game since Dec. 22 the Rams forced fewer turnovers than they committed.
