KINGSTON, R.I. (November 4, 2024) – The University of Rhode Island, runners-up in the Atlantic-10 Conference a year ago, connected on 50 percent of its shots in the second quarter, scoring the final 12 points of the half to gain some breathing room, and made it stand the rest of the way in posting a 68-45 victory over Stonehill College in a season-opening non-conference women's basketball matchup at Thomas M. Ryan Center this evening.
Senior
Harsimran Kaur and junior
Hawa Komara each notched double-doubles to lead Rhode Island. Kaur totaled a game-high 19 points on 7-of-17 shooting to go with 11 rebounds (six offensive) and four blocked shots, while Komara added ten points and a game-high 13 rebounds (six offensive) with two steals. Senior
Sophie Phillips contributed 15 points on 6-of-12 shooting, two boards, two steals, a blocked shot and a steal.
Postgrad
Kylie Swider, a transfer from BIG EAST Villanova University, and sophomore
Brooke Paquette combined for 30 points to lead Stonehill with career-high scoring nights. Swider scored a career-best 15 points for the first double-figure scoring performance of her collegiate career in her Stonehill debut, making 7-of-12 shots and grabbing a team and career-best six rebounds. Paquette matched her career-best with 15 points, including 11 in the first half, on 6-of-14 shooting, and a career-high matching six assists, three steals and two boards.
Swider posted her first collegiate double-figure scoring game in her Skyhawks debut, sharing the team scoring lead and leading in rebounds (PHOTO BY Wesley Bunnell/Stockton Photos)
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Stonehill scored the first four points of the night on Swider and Paquette's opening baskets of the game and held URI in check over the first quarter. The Rams took the lead (14-12) into the second quarter after junior
Ines Debroise answered a tying three-pointer by Paquette with 14 seconds left.
After Kauer stretched the URI lead to four (16-12) early in the second quarter, Stonehill pulled even (20-20) with a Swider jumper with six minutes to play in the first half. After sophomore
Sophia Vital and Paquette traded three-pointers on either side of the media timeout, the Rams scored the final 12 points of the half to open a double-digit lead (37-23) at the intermission.
Rhode Island scored the first five points of the second half on a Kauer three-pointer and Komrah layup to extend its lead to 19 (42-23). Stonehill pulled back within 12 (44-32) with a 9-2 spurt capped by a three-point play from freshman
Megan Sias. The Skyhawks were still within 13 (50-37) after a Paquette jumper with 67 seconds left in the third, but the Rams scored the last five points of the frame, including a Phillips three-pointer, to regain an 18-point cushion (55-37) heading to the fourth.
URI sealed the win from there, stretching the advantage past 20 points through the final ten minutes of play.
Noteworthy
- Tonight marked the first-ever meeting between Stonehill and Rhode Island, marking the Skyhawks second opponent from the Atlantic-10 Conference over their first three years at the NCAA Division I level after visiting George Washington University last season.
- URI held a 51-34 rebounding advantage and outscored Stonehill 25-14 in points off turnovers as the Skyhawks committed 25 for the game.
- Paquette notched her eighth career double-figure scoring game.
Up Next
Stonehill (0-1, 0-0 NEC) returns to action in two days when it hosts Emmanuel College for its home opener at Merkert Gymnasium on Thursday at 7 p.m. URI (1-0, 0-0 A10) visits UAlbany on Friday at 7 p.m.
Season and single-game tickets for home Stonehill basketball games can be purchased in advance online at stonehillskyhawks.com/tickets.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and check out its all-new website, powered by Sidearm Sports, at stonehillskyhawks.com.
