FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 30, 2010

RILEY LEADS RIC PAST
UMASS BOSTON, 59-25

Boston, MA—Sophomore forward Rachel Riley (Coventry, RI) scored a game-high 13 points to lead the Rhode Island College women’s basketball team over host University of Massachusetts Boston, 59-25, in a Little East Conference contest this afternoon at the Clark Athletic Center on the UMass Boston campus. The Anchorwomen improve to 12-7 overall and 4-5 LEC play, while the loss drops the Beacons to 4-15 and 0-9 on the campaign.

 Sophomore forward Rachel Riley

 "Our defensive pressure allowed us get several baskets in transition to jump out to a big first half lead," RIC Head Women's Basketball Coach Marcus Reilly said.  "Our bench's ability to secure the lead and get everyone involved was key for us at this point in the season."

The Anchorwomen scored the first hoop of the contest only four seconds into the game on a jump shot by sophomore guard Stephanie Coro (North Providence, RI). The hot start helped the visitors jump out to an 8-0 lead, 16:44 into the half, fueled by four points from Coro before the Beacons ended the run on a three-point bucket by freshman guard Kate Levy (Falmouth, MA) at the 15:47 mark making it 8-3, RIC.

After trading baskets to make it a 10-5 contest, the Anchorwomen put on a full court press that suffocated the Beacons backcourt, helping fuel an uncanny 24-0 run to put Rhode Island College ahead 34-5 with 2:12 left in the first stanza. Riley scored 10 of her 13 points during the first half of play, eight during the run.

The Beacons were able to net back-to-back field goals to end the first half on jumpers by freshman guard Elizabeth Dow (Marshfield, MA) and junior forward Cammy Brown (Malden, MA) to close the halftime gap to 34-9, RIC.

The Anchorwomen forced UMass Boston into 22 first half turnovers which led to 20 points, and outscored the Beacons 20-0 on points in the paint in the half.

In the second half, UMass Boston was unable to stage a comeback as Rhode Island College coasted to a 59-25 victory.

 Junior guard Lauren Harrington

The Anchorwomen were able to hold UMass Boston to a gloomy shooting performance of 22.5% from the floor on the afternoon (9-40) while forcing the hosts to turn the ball over 31 times. UMass Boston was able to hold Rhode Island College to only one three-point field goal on the afternoon (1-12).

For the Beacons, Levy led the squad with 11 points, three assists and two rebounds. Dow grabbed a game-high seven rebounds to go along with four points, an assist and a steal.

Coro ended the afternoon with nine points, three steals and a rebound, while junior guard Lauren Harrington (Exeter, RI) came off the bench to chip in with six points, four steals and three rebounds.

Senior forward Christina Coro (North Providence, RI) scored a career-high six points.

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to Fitchburg State for its final non-conference game of the season.

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