Rhode Island put four players in double figures, and ended the game on an 18-5 run on Sunday afternoon in picking up a 69-56 non-conference women’s basketball win over Maine on Skip Chappelle Court at Memorial Gymnasium in Orono.
The Rams out of the Atlantic 10 shot 57% from the floor in the first half, but the Black Bears were able to keep it close (28-27) at the break backed by their three-point shooting (5-8) and 14 points from Adrianna Smith. Three-pointers by Ines Debroise and Vanessa Harris in the final minute of the third quarter snapped a 45-45 tie and gave URI a six point advantage heading into the fourth. Maine used a 6-0 run of their own to tie up again 51-51 on two buckets by Smith and a driving layup from Sarah Talon with eight minutes left. The guests took over from there with a 7-0 spurt, scoring 18 of the final 23 points to pick up the road victory.
Brooklyn Gray and Vanessa Harris both had 18 points to lead Rhode Island. Gray added six rebounds and three assists, while Harris contributed three rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Palmire Mbu chipped in 13 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two blocked shots. Debroise also got into double figures with 11 points. The Rams are now 8-2. Smith put in a game-high 26 points (11-20 field goals) in the Maine loss. She added six rebounds and three assists, and put up double digit points for the ninth time in 10 games this season. Maddie Fitzpatrick (Cheverus) had her best game so far this year as she recorded 10 points (2-3 three-pointers, 4-4 free throws), three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Talon had seven points and Lizzy Gruber (Gardiner) had six. The Black Bears (3-7) will now finish their non-conference schedule with three games on the road beginning on Friday night at 7 p.m. against Fairfield University.
Photo of Adrianna Smith from a game earlier this season courtesy of UMaine Athletics
