Women's Basketball
Licina Leads Rams Past Siena, 63-54
Nov. 16, 2007
KINGSTON, R.I. - Junior Tanja Licina (Belgrade, Serbia) scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the University of Rhode Island women's basketball team to a 63-54 win over Siena College in non-conference action Friday night at he Ryan Center.
Senior Safi Mojidi (Silver Spring, Md.) added 13 points and a game-high six assists for the Rams, who improved to 2-1 on the season. Melissa Manzer led the Saints (0-3) with a game-high 18 points.
The Rams jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead before the Saints went on a 9-2 run to grab a 9-8 lead just before the 12-minute mark. Mojidi put the Rams back in front with a three at 9:40 and they brought a 27-23 lead into the locker room at halftime. Sophomore Lindsay Harris (Upper Marlboro, Md.) and Mojidi led Rhode Island with six points each as the Rams shot 40.0 percent from the field. Laura Menty paced Siena with eight points and also snared five boards.
Rhode Island held onto the lead through the first eight minutes of the second half behind six points from Licina. The Saints tied the game on a three-pointer by Manzer at 12:05 and took the lead at 40-37 just over two minutes later when she converted a three-point play. A three-pointer by Mojidi at 7:24 put the Rams back in front 44-42 and they held on the rest of the way, outscoring the Saints 19-12 down the stretch.
Harris finished the game with 12 points for the Rams, who held a 40-33 edge on the glass. Each team knocked down five three-point field goals, but the Rams ball movement was perhaps the key to their win as they finished with 21 assists, compared to 10 for Siena. Menty finished with 14 points and six boards for the Saints while Sarah Fullmer chipped in with 10 points and six rebounds.
The Rams return to action on Tuesday, November 20 when they travel to Worcester, Mass. for a 5:30 game against Holy Cross.
