New Years nice to the Rams as Women's Basketball open 2025 with a win

Photo Courtesy of Michaela Benford/URI Athletics

New Years was nice to the Rhode Island Rams women’s basketball team who trekked to Olean, New York for a battle with St. Bonaventure. 

The Rams took down the Bonnies 82-48 in their second highest scoring mark of the season. Rhody had four players in double-figures, while shooting 35-67, over 50% from the field.

“I was really pleased today with the way we showed up to compete,” URI Head Coach Tammi Reiss said. “The goal was to focus on us and get 1% better today. Defensively start the game strong, and our defense would lead to our offense. I think we did that in the first half.” 

The win marked Reiss’ 100th career victory, making her the fastest to the century mark in program history, doing it in just 160 games. 

“At any point when you reach 100 wins it’s definitely not you,” Reiss said. “It’s staff, all the people that have been here from Sharnee Zoll to Mehan Shoniker, my new staff, Adeyni Amadou for six years straight and then to all our players that really buy into our culture and what we try to do at Rhode Island. So I say this, the team soaked me but it’s really not me, it's our group. It’s the special kids that come to play for us and it’s the special people and the team and the we. And we talk about that all the time and I'm forever grateful to all the coaches and all the players.” 

The Rams exploded out of the gates, jumping out to an 8-0 lead led by senior guard Sophie Phillips, who scored the game's first five points.

“[We] built that lead [in the first half],” Reiss said. “Second half we relaxed a little bit, but then ended the game with a good four minute stretch where we held them. Under 50 points was our goal, had 17 [offensive rebounds], another goal, and then score in transition. 82 points again, three games in a row our defense has led to our offense, overall really pleased.” 

Rhody had a 16-9 advantage after the first quarter before allowing just four second quarter points, while scoring 20 of its own, to lead 36-13 at the midpoint. The Bonnies would return to play with a strong offensive push, notching 20 points in the third quarter but could not contain the Rams who added 21 of their own on 44.4% shooting. 

The Rams kept their lead by out rebounding the Bonnies 53-21 in total, with a 13-2 advantage in the third quarter. 53 total rebounds marked the team's second highest rebound total of the season – The Rams had 54 against Brown University on Nov. 23, 2024 in a 63-58 win at the Ryan Center.

The Rams will look to get her 101st win against Davidson College on Saturday when the Rams continue their road trip to North Carolina. The game is available for streaming on ESPN+ with an audio broadcast available on​​ The Varsity Network.