Despite a win over Fordham, URI women's basketball focuses on being better
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — It’s not too soon for the University of Rhode Island to start thinking about generating momentum for an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball tournament run.
The Rams will find it difficult to retain their regular-season crown. Any chance of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament has likely passed.
Nights like Wednesday are opportunities to build habits toward March. URI controlled the middle two quarters while taking out Fordham, 55-44, at the Ryan Center.
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It was far from a perfect performance. The hosts allowed 19 offensive rebounds and saw their lead sink into single digits inside the final 3:54. URI had done enough of the hard work to be safe at that point, but more will be required with greater stakes on the table against the league’s iron.
“You’ve got to start playing well,” URI coach Tammi Reiss said. “You’ve got to start gaining some chemistry and momentum consistently. Because when it takes off, then it can really take off. It’s what happened to Saint Louis last year.”
The Billikens surprised the field in Delaware while punching a ticket to March Madness. URI won’t be sneaking up on anyone — certainly not after being tabbed as the preseason favorite in the conference. The 10-minute spans into and out of the break here showed why, with Tenin Magassa dominating inside into halftime and some perimeter shooting heating up coming out of it.
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Tammi Reiss opens her postgame after a win over Fordham. #URI #A10WBB pic.twitter.com/XQXUNgVmZt
— Bill Koch (@BillKoch25) January 18, 2024
“Yes, we won,” Reiss said. “But I’m not focused on that. I’m really focused on getting momentum and playing really well. And the things we do — rebound, defend and take care of the ball.”
URI took the lead for good with a 10-0 run into the locker room. Magassa scored all of her eight points during that stretch, her second straight game off the bench after recovering from a left shoulder injury. Her layup on the left block inside the final five seconds gave URI a 28-20 cushion.
“She was big in that second quarter,” Reiss said. “Being able to go to her on that low block, she got us some really good shots.”
URI broke away in the third by opening on a 7-0 run. Sophie Phillips sparked it with a 3-pointer, one of three the hosts hit in the frame after closing the opening half just 1-for-5. Dee Dee Davis and Teisha Hyman added jumpers from deep and Fordham connected at just 2-for-16 overall while falling into a 43-24 hole.
“We’re going to need Teisha to play big,” Reiss said, as Hyman closed with 12 points and 10 rebounds. “Rebounding and especially scoring — she's got to be able to give us that lift.”
Mayé Touré topped URI with 15 points and chipped in five rebounds. Phillips added nine points despite early foul trouble that kept her on the bench. URI (12-7, 4-2 Atlantic 10) enjoyed a 30-16 advantage in the paint despite being shorthanded in the frontcourt.
“We have a lot to clean up,” Reiss said. “We really do. We’re going to get a day off and we’re going to come back and we’re going to get to work.”
Fordham (6-12, 1-6) has only scored fewer points once this season — that came in a 78-39 road skunking at Miami. Emy Hayford pumped in a game-high 23 and Taylor Donaldson added 11. The visitors shot just 27.9% and closed only 10-for-41 from 2-point range.
“Thank God we defended a little bit,” Reiss said. “We got stops. Or else that would have been a long night.”
URI hosts Saint Joseph’s in a noon tip Sunday, a matchup of expected contenders for the top spot. The Rams fell in a thriller at unbeaten Richmond last weekend and will need a strong effort to keep pace with the Hawks. URI could be without forward Anaelle Dutat for a fourth straight game, as the school’s compliance department is attempting to iron out a transcript issue flagged prior to a loss at Loyola Chicago.
“She’s glue for us,” Reiss said. “I’m excited to get her back. Hopefully, we’ll get her back here soon. The school is doing everything it can.”
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Despite a home victory over Fordham, URI women's basketball focuses on being better
