Feb. 17, 2006
KINGSTON, R.I. -
In a game that featured two teams that needed a win to clear up their cloudy playoff picture, Rhode Island outlasted the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team, 67-60, Friday night at the Ryan Center.
With the Bonnies down by six, 61-55, sophomore guard Priscilla Edwards drilled a pull-up three-pointer to make it a one-possession game with 43 ticks left on the clock. Things got dicey on the following play when freshman Katelyn Murray batted the Rhode Island inbound pass out of bounds, but the ball appeared to go off Tanya Rhodes who was already standing out of bounds. However, possession was awarded to the Rams and the Bonnies were forced to foul. To Rhode Island's credit, the Rams sank all 10 of their free throws in the final 1:44 to seal the win.
The loss drops the Bonnies' record to 8-16 and 2-11 in the Atlantic 10, while the Rams move to 7-17 and 4-9 in conference action with the win. Depending on the results from Saint Louis, the brown and white could now be a full two games out of the last playoff spot.
The game began with both teams trading baskets until the Bonnies were able to get some separation behind seven straight points from Murray and fellow rookie Erica Schiefen during a 7-2 spurt that made the score 13-10 with 13:30 remaining.
The next 7:30 of the half featured five lead changes and three ties. Neither team held more than a three point edge until senior Stefanie Collins changed the face of the first period. The senior sharpshooter drained three straight trifectas while Bona defense held the Rams to just one field goal over the final six minutes en route to taking a 29-24 lead into the break.
Collins ended the first half with 14 of the Bonnies' 29 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field, including four three-pointers. St. Bonaventure shot 52 percent (12-23) for the half and held Rhode Island to a 31 percent (11-35) clip from the field.
The Rams used their superior size to mount their comeback in the second half. Behind 14 second points from Whitney Hollis, Rhode Island outscored St. Bonaventure 43-31 in the final stanza.
Junior Audrey Latendresse scored a team-high 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. Collins knocked down five three-pointers to finish with 17 points. Priscilla Edwards turned in another solid all-around game with nine points, a team six rebounds and six assists.
St. Bonaventure will make the short drive to Amherst to take on Massachusetts on Sunday afternoon at the Mullins Center. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m.
