Women's Hoops Falls to No. 16/17 West Virginia, 80-47

Nov. 24, 2007

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KINGSTON, R.I. - Senior Safi Mojidi (Silver Spring, Md.) scored a team-high 21 points and added four rebounds as the Rhode Island women's basketball team fell to No. 16/17 West Virginia in the Championship game of the third-annual URI Invitational, Saturday afternoon.

The Mountaineers (5-1) shot 59.6 percent from the field, including 11-of-17 (64.7%) from three-point range for the game. WVU's Olayinka Sanni finished with a game-high 22 points and took home the URI Invitational Most Outstanding Player award.

The Rams (3-3) found themselves trailing by 21 at halftime (43-22) but opened the second frame with an 18-5 run that cut the Mountaineers advantage to ten points with 10:02 to go. WVU held strong though, and closed out the game by outscoring Rhode Island, 30-7, down the stretch for the victory.

URI redshirt junior Crystal Bellinger (New York, N.Y.) dished out a game-high six assists and added seven points and three steals in the loss.

West Virginia out-rebounded Rhody by a 36-22 margin, and was able to turn 25 Rhody turnovers into 35 points.

The Rams return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 28 when they travel to Central Connecticut for a 7 p.m. game against the Blue Devils.

URI Invitational All-Tournament
Liz Hayes - American
Safi Mojifi - Rhode Island
Chakhia Cole - West Virginia
LaQuita Owens - West Virginia

URI Invitational Most Outstanding Player
Olayinka Sanni - West Virginia