Women's Basketball
Rhody Hosts Boston University in Season Opener, Friday at 5 p.m.
Nov. 14, 2008
RHODE ISLAND VS. SACRED HEART
Rhode Island opens the 2008-09 regular season at home against Boston University on Friday, Nov. 14. The game marks the 14th meeting all-time between the two squads with the Terriers holding a 7-6 advantage in the all-time series. URI last faced BU last season, falling to the Terriers, 77-56, at Case Gym in Boston, Mass. In that game, Amanda McGrew led the Rams with 15 points, three assists and three steals while Crystal Bellinger added 14 points, 4 steals and three assists.
RHODE ISLAND VS. The AMERICA EAST CONFERENCE
Rhode Island has turned in a 35-46 (.432) all-time record against America East opponents. The Rams are 6-7 against Boston University, 2-3 against Hartford, 11-11 against Maine, 9-15 against New Hampshire, 6-10 against Vermont and 1-0 against Stony Brook. The Rams will face Albany for the first time ever this season, at the Ryan Center on Jan. 3.
RHODE ISLAND IN SEASON OPENERS
URI has posted a 16-17 mark in season openers. The Rams open their 34rd season of women's basketball on Friday night, looking for their second-consecutive season-opening victory after posting a 62-42 win over Sacred Heart to start the 2007-08 season.
RHODE ISLAND ALL-TIME
In 33 seasons of basketball, the Rams have posted a 375-551 mark (.405). The team's all-time record at the Ryan Center is 32-44 (.421). In 2007-08, Rhode Island registered a 6-8 mark on its home court.
URI PICKED 11TH IN PRESEASON POLL
The Rhode Island women's basketball team was picked to finish 11th in the 2008-09 Atlantic 10 Conference race, according to a poll conducted by the A-10 head coaches and select media. Rhody finished the 2007-08 campaign with a 13-18 record (5-9 A-10) and advanced to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.
RHODY RETURNERS
The 2008-09 Rhode Island roster features six letterwinners who saw action in 30-or-more games last season, and eight returners overall. Four of the Rams' top-five scorers from last season are back. Amanda McGrew returns as the leadig scorer while Sierra Cooper led last year's squad on the boards (5.5 rpg). Crystal Bellinger (7.4 ppg, 3.6 apg), Tanja Licina (5.8 ppg) and Lindsay Harris (2.8 ppg) round out Friday's probable starters while Megan Shoniker (4.1 ppg), Ebony Evans (1.2 ppg) and Aija Veiksane 1.8 ppg) all are entering their second season in Kingston.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
The Rams have added five newcomers as junior Caitlin Kearns - a transfer from Utah State - and freshman Chari Lehnertz - a three-sport athlete out of Winona, Minn. - will bring length to the frontcourt while junior Janae Miller, freshmen Sherrie Session and Lara Gaspar will add depth to the perimeter. Miller, a transfer from Central Arizona, averaged 9.86 points and 4.61 last season and helped lead her team to two league championships and back-to-back second place finishes at the junior college nationals. A native of Downey, Calif., Session averaged 17.5 ppg and 7.0 rpg at Valley Christian High School while Gaspar, who hails from Spa, Belgium, averaged 13.5 ppg and 9.0 rpg at South Forsyth (Ga.) High School.
RAMS IN 2007-08
Last season, the Rhode Island Rams turned in an overall record of 13-18 - a seven game improvement from 2006-07 (6-29). The Rams were 5-9 in the Atlantic 10 Conference, finishing tied (with Saint Louis) for 10th place. Rhody made its 26th-consecutive appearance in the A-10 Tournament, falling to No. 13 George Washington, 70-43, in the quarterfinals after defeating St Bonaventure, 61-49, in the opening round of competition.
