Rhode Island women's basketball will face a challenging schedule this season
Get used to watching the University of Rhode Island match up with fellow Atlantic 10 women’s basketball title contenders.
The Rams have been drawn home-and-home with the majority of the league’s top half from the 2022-23 season. Thursday morning’s schedule release offered a handful of stiff tests for URI on its path to what could be a third consecutive postseason berth.
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Regular season cochampion Massachusetts, league tournament champion Saint Louis, fifth-place Richmond and sixth-place Saint Joseph’s will all visit Kingston and host the Rams in 2023-24. Fordham also comes to the Ryan Center at a date to be determined, one of two teams to hand URI a league loss during a special campaign.
Coach Tammi Reiss and what should be a strong roster assembled by her staff will play home contests only against Davidson, George Mason, St. Bonaventure, VCU and the Bronx-based Rams. URI will play road contests only against Dayton, Duquesne, George Washington, La Salle and Loyola Chicago. It marks the first time the Rams will play 18 conference games, an expansion from the 16-game they navigated last season.
URI reached the third round of the WNIT before falling at Harvard, recording its first pair of postseason victories in program history. The Rams finished 26-7 overall and 14-2 in the conference, splitting with the Minutewomen and suffering a late-season defeat at Rose Hill Gym. URI fell against the Billikens in the league semifinals before downing Boston University and Richmond in March.
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The Rams added a pair of transfers in the offseason, picking up pledges from Manhattan guard Dee Dee Davis and Syracuse guard Teisha Hyman. URI had backcourt minutes to offer after graduating transfer guards Sayawni Lassiter and Madison Hattix-Covington. The Rams also saw starter Dolly Cairns (Florida Gulf Coast) and reserve Emmi Rinat (Toledo) depart via transfer.
Player movement hasn't been the only offseason change in the league. UMass and Fordham welcome new coaches in Mike Leflar and Bridgette Mitchell, respectively. Tory Verdi (Pittsburgh) and Candice Green (assistant, Holy Cross) both departed at the close of last season.
URI will visit Providence and is set to play a pair of neutral court games in Las Vegas as part of its nonconference schedule. The Rams welcome back league Most Improved Player Mayé Touré, breakout shooter Sophie Phillips and a pair of frontcourt factors in Tenin Magassa and Anaelle Dutat.
URI will attempt to peak for the conference tournament, which is set for March 6-10 at the new Henrico Sports & Events Center.
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island women's basketball faces stiff schedule
