Rhode Island
Rhode Island women’s basketball comeback attempt falls short — here’s how it happened
URI women’s coach Tammi Reiss speaks after Rams lose to George Mason
The Rams fall to 7-10 overall with Sunday’s loss, and 2-2 in Atlantic 10 play
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A missed free throw, a jump ball and a possession arrow pointing the wrong way was merely the final straw.
What came prior to that was largely what doomed the University of Rhode Island women to defeat Sunday afternoon.
George Mason matched its largest lead with 6:23 to play and held on for dear life down the stretch at the Ryan Center. The Rams left too much work to do in too little time and fell to the Patriots, 71-65, in what developed into an Atlantic 10 thriller.
Kennedy Harris and Paula Suarez connected on the clinching free throws inside the final 16 seconds, spreading out what was just a 67-65 lead. It was the second trip to the line for Suarez in the last minute — the first offered a cracked door for URI to steal this one despite falling into a 66-50 hole midway through the fourth quarter.
“Any other game, we don’t come back,” URI coach Tammi Reiss said. “It stays at 15 or 16 and we take the loss, but today they fought. We can build on that.”
Sophia Vital’s driving layup with 22.9 seconds left capped a 15-0 run and brought the Rams within 66-65. URI had a pair of fouls to give and eventually put Suarez on the line to make the first of her two attempts. Louis Volker tied up Harsimran Kaur in the rebounding action when Suarez missed the second, and a whistle for a jump ball gave possession to George Mason with 17.2 seconds left.
“We missed the box out,” Reiss said. “If you hit, contact and hold, she comes over the back. When you don’t hit and are even to the ball, for me, it’s a missed box out.
“You’ve got to get a box out on that. You cannot give up a jump ball or an [offensive] board on that. It’s a teaching moment for them.”
More than a few fans in the crowd of 1,723 disagreed, but the end result was George Mason inbounding with a chance to make it a four-point game. Harris capped off her 18-point effort with a pair of makes at the line and Sophie Phillips missed a 3-pointer at the other end that could have given the Rams a thin final chance.
“We threw the kitchen sink at that team to try to disrupt them,” Reiss said. “It worked to a certain degree, but in the end, players make plays. Volker made a hustle play.”
Suarez’s driving layup was the last field goal of the afternoon for the Patriots, who closed just 3 for 14 down the stretch after a 21-for-43 start. Ines Debroise scored half of her 12 points during the URI run, and Vital missed a 3-pointer from the right corner that could have tied a 66-63 game with 1:08 left.
The Rams opted for the best look available after a timeout with 38.3 seconds to play, and they ultimately never took another shot with a chance to draw even after Vital swooped down the right side.
“There was plenty of time — let’s get the best look,” Reiss said. “And then we’re going to throw our press on.”
George Mason (13-3, 3-2 Atlantic 10) overcame a 3-for-16 start in the first quarter to catch fire in the second. The Patriots built a 34-27 lead on a Suarez drive down the lane, and URI (7-10, 2-2) used a second timeout in 2:01 attempting to stop a 10-for-14 heater. The Rams faced a 36-30 deficit into halftime and found themselves in more trouble when George Mason mounted runs of 9-0 and 10-0 to build a 56-40 cushion with 2:55 left in the third.
“There was so much more game to play,” Harris said. “It was only the first half. I just needed that spark to get me going.”
The Patriots entered solidly in the NCAA Tournament discussion and were coming off a stinging 88-86 loss to defending league champion Richmond. URI had won five straight over George Mason, including a dramatic finish in a 70-68 classic here last season. The Rams have now dropped two in a row, including their only home contest in a five-game stretch that now pivots to road matchups with VCU and Duquesne.
“It’s getting them mentally prepared no matter what,” Reiss said. “This team doesn’t really care. They don’t get too high and don’t get too low.”
GEORGE MASON (71): Zahirah Walton 8-14 4-6 22, Nalani Kaysia 0-4 2-4 2, Kennedy Harris 6-12 3-5 18, Paula Suarez 7-14 5-8 19, Ta’Viyanna Habib 0-4 1-2 1, Trinity Massenberg 0-1 0-0 0, Louis Volker 3-6 0-0 7, Nekhu Mitchell 0-2 2-2 2, Jada Brown 0-0 0-0 0, LeAire Nicks 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-57 17-27 71.
RHODE ISLAND (65): Hawa Komara 7-12 0-1 14, Anaelle Dutat 0-3 0-0 0, Harsimran Kaur 8-24 0-0 17, Sophie Phillips 3-8 0-0 8, Sophia Vital 5-10 1-1 12, Ines Debroise 3-6 5-6 12, Palmire Mbu 1-3 0-0 2, Ayanna Franks 0-0 0-0 0, Katie Ledden 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 27-66 6-8 65.Halftime — GM, 36-30. 3-point FG — GM 6-12 (Walton 2-2, Harris 3-5, Suarez 0-1, Habib 0-1, Volker 1-2, Mitchell 0-1), RI 5-18 (Dutat 0-1, Kaur 1-5, Phillips 2-6, Vital 1-3, Debroise 1-2, Mbu 0-1). Rebounds — GM 39 (Walton 7), RI 39 (Kaur 14). Assists — GM 11 (Suarez 4), RI 18 (Vital 6).
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On X: @BillKoch25
(WJAR) — Thirty-two years ago was the commissioning of a Navy submarine named after the Ocean State.
Maria Stephanos was on board the USS Rhode Island on July 9, 1994.
Rhode Island was the Navy’s 15th Trident class ballistic submarine.
It was commissioned in Newport and was the first to be christened in its namesake state.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — They come from all walks of life, including many professionals in the community, taking time out of their busy days to welcome students to school with enthusiasm and handshakes.
“We learn a lot of new handshakes, too,” Kobi Dennis said. “High-fives. Pounds with an explosion. We get a little bit of everything.”
It’s the Handshake Initiative, the brainchild of now Central Falls Police Chief Anthony Roberson.
Everybody can use some encouragement, and students in Rhode Island get that the minute they head toward the school building.
Initially, the students and parents didn’t know what to think.
“I was confused because I thought it was going to be a normal day,” said one student.
“Their parents were getting out of their cars trying to see what’s going on,” Reservoir Avenue School Principal Cynthia Torres said.
But now, they crave it.
“It makes me feel motivated,” another student said.
Dennis adds in an etiquette component.
“Teaching the kids how to shake hands, look one another in the eyes with a firm grip — girl or guy — firm grip and say ‘hello’ and introduce yourself, that’s part of the initiative as well,” Dennis said.
Providence school superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez said it sends a strong message.
“We hear you, we see you, and we’re here for you,” Montañez said.
Torres strategically uses them on standardized test days.
“They say, ‘I’m going to do really good today,’” she said.
“It makes me feel encouraged to do better in school,” a student said.
They’ve connected with thousands of students across Rhode Island.
“It’s about shaking hands and building relationships, but it’s also about letting young people know that there are professionals in the community cheering for them every single day,” Dennis said.
Do you know of a nonprofit organization or volunteers doing great work in your community? Fill out a short nomination form for “Community Treasures.”
A man was critically hurt in a stabbing in Providence on Tuesday, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.
Police were first called to Smith Street around 7 p.m. for the reported stabbing. They found the victim on Chalkstone Avenue.
He was taken to the hospital where he remains in critical condition.
The case remains under investigation and no arrests were announced.
-
Connecticut56 seconds agoThis Underrated Connecticut Town Is Getting National Recognition as One of the Best Places to Live
-
Delaware8 minutes agoPlans advance for Delaware city’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant
-
Florida11 minutes agoSummer Scheming ‘26: Florida State Seminoles
-
Georgia16 minutes agoTravel and Leisure listed unique experiences in each state, including GA
-
Hawaii23 minutes agoThree West Hawaii sex offenders arrested – West Hawaii Today
-
Idaho26 minutes agoIdaho Power crews respond to outage affecting 2,163 customers in Canyon County
-
Illinois38 minutes agoAs Illinois enters 10th year under Evidence-Based Funding model, equity remains an elusive goal
-
Indiana41 minutes agoFAIRFIELD NATIVE AND HIS WIFE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR NEWBURGH, INDIANA HOME
