The Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball teams of New England went 2-0 in early games on Friday. The Rhode Island Rams (5-8, 0-0 Atlantic 10) defeated the Saint Francis (PA) Red Flash (2-11, 0-0 Northeast Conference) 77-37 in a field trip day matinee. The Massachusetts Minutewomen (5-6, 0-0 Atlantic 10) defeated the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass Lowell) Riverhawks (2-10, 0-0) 53-33 on Friday afternoon.
Rhode Island Snaps a Five-Game Losing Streak in Blowout Win over Saint Francis
The Rams came out of the gates strong looking to snap the five-game losing streak that started back in their first game of the Cancun Challenge. Rhode Island came out strong causing Saint Francis to be limited to 14 points in the first half and having forced 15 turnovers by the Red Flash. The Rams had big runs throughout the game while Saint Francis found themselves in big scoring droughts and having committed 28 turnovers throughout the whole game. Sophie Phillips inched herself closer and closer to the three-pointers made record in the Rams program history, needing three more three-pointers to break the record for made three-pointers.
The Rams had three players in double-figure scoring on Friday morning. Harsimran “Honey” Kaur led the way with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks, Phillips had 17 points, and Anaelle Dutat had 12 points, 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks rounding out scorers in double digits. Hawa Komara had 8 points and 8 rebounds, Sophia Vital had 7 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds, Katie Ledden had 6 points, Albina Syla had 4 points, and Ayana Franks had 2 points and 3 rebounds to round out all scorers for the Rams.
Rhode Island opens up conference play at home in the Ryan Center against the Saint Louis Billikens (5-7, 0-0 Atlantic 10) on Sunday, December 29th at 1pm.
Balanced Scoring Attack from the Minutewomen Helps Earn a Win over the Riverhawks
The Minutewomen earned their fifth win of the season, tying the amount of wins they had from a season ago. UMass and UMass Lowell both traded off big-scoring runs and long-scoring droughts throughout the game. The Minutewomen ended up on a twenty-six-to-six run through the final sixteen-and-a-half minutes of the second half. Megan Olbrys was consistent throughout the game, despite dealing with early foul trouble. Once UMass got into a groove and found a way for other players to get involved in the game besides Olbrys and Yahmani McKayle it was their game to lose.
There were three players in double-figure scoring for the Minutewomen on Friday afternoon. Olbrys led the way with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 assists, Stefanie Kulesza had 10 points and 5 steals, and Chinenye Odenigbo had 10 points and 3 rebounds for the scorers in double-digits. McKayle had 9 points and 3 steals, Allie Palmieri had 5 points, Momo LaClair had 2 points, and Lilly Ferguson had 2 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals to round out all scorers for the Minutewomen.
UMass returns home to the Mullins Center for the first time since December 5th to open up their final season in the Atlantic 10 conference against the Fordham Rams (6-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10) on Sunday, December 29th at 1pm.
Featured Images: Chris Tucci, UMass Athletics & Bella Kelley, Rhode Island Athletics
Kaily “KG” Godek is a current student at Western New England University (WNE). She has been a supporter of UMass Athletics for over 15 years. Kaily focuses on both UMass Basketball teams and occasionally on the other Women’s Basketball teams in the conference. While writing for A10 Talk, she works in the athletic department at WNE. When she graduates from WNE she wants to go into either Sports Broadcasting and Journalism or Coaching. You can follow Kaily on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kgumass23.
