Nov. 17, 2008
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RHODE ISLAND VS. SIENA
Rhode Island travels to Albany, N.Y. to take on Siena, Monday night at the Times Union Center. The game is the first end of a Siena doubleheader as the Saints' men's team will face Boise State following the conclusion of the women's game. Rhode Island is 3-0 all-time against Siena, most recently defeating the Saints, 63-54, last season (Nov. 16) at URI. In that game,
Tanja Licina paced the Rams with 14 points and nine rebounds.
RHODE ISLAND VS. THE MAAC
Rhode Island has turned in a 15-6 (.714) all-time record against members of the MAAC. The Rams are 3-0 against Siena and Marist, 6-2 against Manhattan, 1-0 against Niagara, 2-2 against Fairfield and 0-2 against Canisius. The last time out against a MAAC opponent, Rhode Island was defeated at Canisius (70-63) on Jan. 2, 2008. In that game, Megan Shoniker tallied a game-high 18 points, including five three-pointers.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
Canisius is 0-1 to date, having dropped a 89-75 decision to Syracuse in the season opener for both teams on Nov. 14. The Saints are 0-1 at home this season, having yet to play a game on the road. Siena is led by Allie Lindemann (20.0 ppg), Brittany Wilwohl (19.0 ppg/3.0 apg) and Heather Stec (11.0 ppg/10.0 rpg).
RHODE ISLAND ALL-TIME
In 32 seasons of basketball, URI has posted a 370-541 mark (.406). The team's all-time record at the Ryan Center is 30-40 (.429). This season, the Rams are 0-1 on their home court and 0-0 on the road.
LAST TIME OUT
Crystal Bellinger registered a team-high 15 points and three steals as the Rhode Island women's basketball team fell to Boston University, 50-45, in the season opener for both teams, Nov. 14 in Kingston, R.I. Amanda McGrew added five assists and five rebounds while Lara Gaspar recorded nine points and three rebounds in her collegiate debut.
GASPAR SHINES IN COLLEGIATE DEBUT
Freshman Lara Gaspar recorded nine points and three rebounds in her collegiate debut, Nov. 14 against Boston University. The 6-0 swing player saw 17 minutes of action and also registered a steal while accounting for over half of the 16 points from Rhody's bench.
UP NEXT FOR THE RAMS
After facing Siena on Nov. 17, Rhode Island travels to the XL Center in Hartford to take on No. 1/1 Connecticut on Saturday, Nov. 22. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. Rhode Island, which holds a 12-9 advantage in the all-time series with UConn, will be facing the Huskies for the first time since Nov. 21, 2001. In that game, Rhody was defeated by a score of 83-38. The last time the Rams faced a ranked opponent in the regular season, URI dropped a 48-45 heartbreaker to No. 13 George Washington on Jan. 16, 2008.
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.
ATLANTIC 10 FORMAT
The Atlantic 10 Conference consists of 14 member schools competing under one division. During the Conference schedule, each team will play one regular-season game against 12 of the Conference institutions and two regular-season games against one Conference institution designated as its travel partner (URI's travel partner is Massachusetts) for a total of 14 Conference games.
A-10 CHAMPIONSHIP
Charlotte was selected by Conference athletic directors to host the 2009 Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship. The Championship, in its 27th season, will tip-off on Friday, March 6 and conclude on Monday, March 9. The top-12 teams in the league qualify for the tournament with four teams receiving first round byes. The quarterfinals will be played on March 7 and the two semifinal matchups will take place on Sunday, March 8 and will be televised by CBS College Sports. The Championship game will be played on Monday, March 9 with the winner receiving the league's automatic berth into the 2009 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship. Xavier is back-to-back defending Atlantic 10 Champions.
