BY NATHAN SOLOMON, SPORTS ASSIGNMENT EDITOR.
The Rhode Island Rams (9-7, 9-4 A10) took an early 4-2 lead over the St. Bonaventure Bonnies (5-12, 4-10 A10) and never looked back, scoring a 69-49 road victory.
“[Rhode Island] really knocked the 3-point shot down,” St. Bonaventure coach Jesse Fleming said. “They did a great job shooting the ball, taking advantage when they got open looks. They just did a really great job against us whenever we made a mistake and turned the basketball over.”
The Rams came out red-hot in the first half, connecting on 61% of their shots and outrebounded the Bonnies 18-7. Rhode Island went into the locker room with a 43-29 lead and would never surrender it.
[Catherine Cairns] came in the game, and it was a big emphasis to not allow her to get going,” Fleming said. “Our offense [led] to their offense.”
Much like last Sunday against George Washington, the Bonnies struggled to get anything going on offense. They shot just 42% from the field and hauled in just four offensive rebounds.
“We were disorganized at times, and that’s on me,” Fleming said. “I thought we could’ve gone for the offensive glass more, and [Rhode Island] took control of the tempo. We would foul or give up a score, and they’d be able to set [a] press.”
St. Bonaventure had just one double-figure scorer: I’yanna Lops.
“I liked her efficiency today,” Fleming said of Lops. “She took a couple of 15-footers, and she’s made a few of those.”
In addition to getting outrebounded (37-24), one major factor in the Bonnies’ loss was how the team never made it to the free-throw line.
“We’re not aggressive right now. I was incredibly disappointed in our effort to pursue the basketball,” Fleming said. “Rhode Island took the ball from us a couple of times, they beat us to the basketball. They played a 2-3 zone for forty minutes and we [had five] offensive rebounds…. Not only are we not getting rebounds, we aren’t getting back.”
Leading the Rams was the duo of Marie-Paule Foppossi and Johanna Muzet, who scored 22 points and 14 points, respectively. Catherine Cairns added 11 points for the winners.
Next up for the Bonnies are the Duquesne Dukes, who come to the Reilly Center for an 6 p.m. tip on Monday night.
“We just need to be stronger with the basketball,” Fleming said. “We need to just get to our spots quicker, and set it up where our attackers are in position to draw fouls.”
