University of Rhode Island Press Release Rhode Island Starters Phillips, Komara, Dutat, Vital, Kaur Massachusetts Starters Odenigbo, Olbrys, LaClair, Palmieri, Kulaeza How it Happened Sophomore Sophia Vital hit a driving layup with 2.5 seconds left to lift Rhode Island to a 60-58 win over Massachusetts Wednesday night. The Rams (9-11, 4-3 A-10) rallied from a six-point deficit in the second half to knock off the Minutewomen for the third straight meeting. UMass (9-10, 4-4 A-10) took its biggest lead with 5:56 to go in the fourth quarter when Yahmani Mckayle hit a layup to put the Minutewomen ahead 48-42. Rhody responded with a layup from Hawa Komara and a 3-pointer from Sophie Phillips in a span of 32 seconds to make the score 48-47 UMass with 4:54 to go. After a Massachusetts timeout, Rhode Island came up with a defensive stop. A hustle rebound from Komara led to a second-chance 3-pointer by Phillips for a 50-48 Rhody lead with 4:13 to go. UMass tied it at 50-50 on a second-chance layup from Chinenye Odenigbo. The teams traded baskets again before Ines Debroise hit a layup to put URI ahead 54-52 with 2:33 left. Mckayle responded again for UMass, hitting a jumper as the shot clock wound down to tie the score at 54-54. Debroise kept the Rams in front, drawing a foul and hitting two free throws with 1:51 on the clock. The back-and-forth action continued with a layup by Chineye Odenigbo to knot the score 56-56. After an empty possession for each side, Hawa Komara came up with a huge play for URI, banking a turnaround jumper in the paint for a 58-56 lead with 22 seconds left. Needing a basket, UMass managed a layup by Megan Olbrys with 16 seconds on the clock. After a timeout, Rhody’s Sophia Vital hit a driving layup with 2.5 seconds on the clock for the game-winning basket. Inside the Box Score Guard Sophie Phillips led Rhode Island with 20 points. She made four 3-pointers and had three assists. Center Harsimran “Honey” Kaur posted a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Forward Hawa Komara was the third Ram in double-digits, scoring 12 points to go with 12 rebounds. Komara shot 6-of-8 from the floor. Junior Ines Debroise had six points and five assists. With the five assists, Debroise cracked the top 10 all-time, matching Carol Smith (1980-84) for 10th with 277 career handouts. Rhode Island outrebounded UMass 43-32. Up Next Rhode Island hosts Loyola Chicago Sunday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+. Categories: College Sports, Sports Tags: University of Rhode Island, URI Rams