Rams cruise over Dolphins for first road win of season

Photo Courtesy of Michaela Benford

In comparison to the first time Rhode Island and Le Moyne faced off in women’s basketball, many things were different the second time around for Sunday’s 76-51 win for the Rams.

Rhody and the Dolphins first clashed at the Ryan Center last season, when thousands of elementary school students brought the energy to the building at 11 a.m., fueling the Rams to a 97-53 win. 

While Sunday’s victory was not quite to that magnitude, Rhode Island was still able to assert their dominance on the road without the help of local students by their side.

While the children of Rhode Island were unable to make the trek to upstate New York, one of Rhode Island’s best players this season was able to make the trip. Ranking second on the team with 10 points per game and third with seven rebounds per contest, Annaelle Dutat has been a force on the hardwood early for the Rams in the 2024-25 season.

Dutat led the Rams with 13 points in the win, marking the second-straight contest in which she has scored in double digits, the first time she has done that in her collegiate career. Dutat also led the team with eight rebounds, getting the job done on both ends.

The story of the day though, was the team depth showcased in the contest, with eleven players seeing the floor and getting a chance to contribute.

“I was really happy today with getting everyone who was dressed today, playing time, and a little bit of experience,” URI Head Coach Tammi Reiss said. “That was key for us today.”

Cia Eklöf, the transfer from Washington State was a key contributor to the stat sheet from off the bench. Eklöf’s 12 points led all reserve players and doubled as not only the most points off the bench all season for Rhode Island, but her career high as well.

“We’re going to need some outside shooting in the future, and I thought Cia did an excellent job off the bench for us,” Reiss said.

Eklöf sank a team-high four three-pointers, and with all of her field goal attempts coming from outside the arc, she could develop into a spot-up shooter for the Rams going forward if her performance can be replicated.

The Rams started the game off well, something that they have struggled with to an extent this season. Through the first two games of the year, the Rams possessed a -3 point differential in the first quarter. However, on Sunday they won the first quarter 19-9, stamping a sense of improvement on the box score.

The Rams will need to continue starting strong, as tough games against Maine on Wednesday and St. John’s on Sunday, both of which were losses in 2023-24, are circled on their upcoming schedule.

Rhode Island hosts their Black Bears in the Ryan Center tomorrow night, with tip-off scheduled for 6:35 p.m. The game can be streamed on ESPN+.