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3/03/2023 10:04 am  #1


GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

Next up:                    Rhode Island Rams (URI)
Time:                         March 3, 2023; 5 PM
Venue:                      Chase Fieldhouse; Wilmington, DE
2022-23 Record:      23-5
    OOC Record:       9-3
    A10 Record:        14-2
Tournament Seed:  2nd
Broadcast:              ESPN+ 

The 2nd seeded Rhode Island Rams take on the Colonials in the quarterfinals of the A10 tournament on Friday at 5 PM. Only a tiebreaker prevented the Rams from gaining the top seed for the tournament, and although they don’t have the depth of talent as #1 seed UMass, they are a legitimate candidate to win the tournament. Post season accolades went to coach Tammi Reiss (Coach of the Year), Maye Toure (1st Team All-A10 and Most Improved Player), and Madison Haddix-Covington (3rd Team All-A10). Toure led the Rams in scoring at 13.8 ppg while corralling 8.6 boards a game. Haddix-Covington chipped in 10.6 ppg and 4.9 rpg. Guards Dolly Cairns and Sophie Phillips are reliable outside threats with both shooting above 36% from beyond the arc. 6’5” Tenin Megassa comes off the bench to provide depth to the URI front court.

In the regular season meeting between the two teams, URI easily handled GW 64-47. Toure dominated the game with 26 points and 14 rebounds, while the URI defense held GW to just 31.1% from the field and outrebounded the Colonials 48-34.
 
About the game:
 
In the last meeting, GW could not handle Toure, who probably had her best all-around game of the season. In order to compete in this game, GW has to find a way to limit Toure without compromising the perimeter defense. GW managed to take Cairns and Phillips out of the game, but it led to a 10-13 shooting night for Toure and 12 trips to the free throw line.
 
GW played its best offensive game in recent weeks against Duquesne. We need more of that. Although Robertson did not have a great game, Lok stepped up to have her best game of the season and Lakstigala showed why she should have been an All-A10 selection. In the first meeting against URI, Lakstigala, Lok, and Robertson were a combined 12-37 from the field as the team shot only 31% for the game. To win this game GW needs to complement the solid defense with a disciplined and productive offensive performance like for most parts of the Duquesne game (45% field goal percentage). In short, GW needs a perfect storm to come out on top, but from this point on, everything is just gravy.
 
At 18-12 overall and a trip to the A10 quarterfinals, the WBB season has been an unqualified success. If GW can stay close in the early going and maintain their composure, anything could happen. Best of luck, Colonials!

Last edited by xAC (3/03/2023 2:23 pm)

 

3/03/2023 1:34 pm  #2


Re: GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

I'll be a true believer if GW can win this game.  PS xAC  I think you meant Friday March 3rd.  Thanks for all your hard work this year.

 

3/03/2023 2:38 pm  #3


Re: GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

Yes March 3. I guess playing everyday can make one hurry. 

     Thread Starter
 

3/03/2023 6:49 pm  #4


Re: GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

Keeping it close

 

3/03/2023 7:12 pm  #5


Re: GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

Alas, women lose 68-56.

 

3/03/2023 7:23 pm  #6


Re: GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

Very proud of the team. They fought until the very end and I'm very excited to watch Nya Robertson in the years to come. Hoping the team can qualify for some postseason tournament but if not it was fun to watch Mia the one year she was in Buff and Blue (and Jayla when healthy). Hopefully the players that can come back for an extra year like Nya Lok, Mayowa, Faith etc. will do so. Lok was sensational down the stretch of the season.

WBB played well enough to get the win today, but the better team came out on top. GW played really well on D but the offense is still a work in progress. URI's length bothered the team (they were deflecting everything) but there were times where we didn't look sure of where to go with the ball. There were definitely a few transition opportunities which I'm sure the team would have loved to have back. Had a few gone GW's way it's a totally different game. The team did a lot better on the boards compared to the last meeting as well. The height disparity almost didn't feel fair though.

Regardless, the future appears bright under McCombs and the team looks poised to continue to take steps forward in the years to come. I'm definitely impressed by the progress through two years.

Finally, thanks xAC and WMC for your coverage of WBB all season!

 

3/03/2023 7:37 pm  #7


Re: GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

GW closes out the A10 season with a hard fought 68-56 loss to URI.
 
1st Quarter:  It was an ugly start for both teams but URI at least managed to make 3 layups to take a 6-2 lead in the first 5 minutes. GW could only manage 2 free throws by Lok, and had their troubles getting clean shots. GW had the last shot trailing 10-8 behind a pair of Blethen 3’s, but Innis made an ill-advised drive to the basket, lost the ball and then fouled a URI player 70 feet away from the basket. After 3 free throws made, the Rams led 13-8 to start the 2nd quarter.
2nd Quarter: Despite some lousy officiating that gave URI three technical free throws, GW cut the lead to 18-17 early in the quarter. Then, URI imposed its height, and with Taiwo on the bench with two fouls, Megassa jumped over whoever was guarding her for 3 easy baskets. Only Lok’s great half (14 points) kept GW within shouting distance at 33-26. Lakstigala was held scoreless and Robertson had a single field goal for the Colonials.
3rd Quarter: Teams battled hard to start the quarter with no team gaining an advantage at the official timeout. With 5 points each the score stood 38-31. For the rest of the quarter, GW couldn’t overcome the Rams' height and the lead grew to 49-39 to start the 4th period. Lok continued her consistent play and entered the last quarter with 21 points.
4th Quarter: A gassed GW had problems keeping up and some bad shots led to easy transitions baskets for URI. At the official timeout, the lead ballooned to 58-44 for URI. After the timeout, GW came out in a press that rattled the Rams, and the Colonials cut the lead to 4 with a couple of minutes to go behind Robertsons’ scoring spurt. After that, a few misguided shots led to a fouling spree that let URI control the closing seconds of the game to close it out 68-56.
 
In the end it was too much height and depth that determined the outcome. URI outscored GW 38-20 in the paint and finished the game at 41.2% field goal accuracy. By contrast, GW only hit on 30.6% and sent the Rams to the line 23 times. URI used their bench generously throughout the game, but GW relied mainly on 6 six players. Credit URI for shutting Lakstigala down and particularly holding her zero makes on just 4 attempts from beyond the arc and making it extremely difficult for Taiwo inside. Credit GW for playing hard until the end.
 
Lok had her second consecutive 20+ point outing and Robertson had a great bounce back game with 19 points in just 24 minutes. Lakstigala finished 1-12 from the field and Taiwo was held scoreless, but this was still a 4-point game with 2 minutes left to play. With the season presumably over, we only left to speculate about about next year and specifically, which seniors, if any will return. Also, it will be interesting to see how the coaching staff addresses the size issue. Like many of the dominant tall players in the A10, both Toure and Megassa return to URI next year. If we don’t address this issue, the road to further success will be that much harder to achieve.
 
Shout out to the team. Thanks for a great season. Best of luck to all of them in the offseason (if in fact we’re done). Everyone enjoy the offseason!

Last edited by xAC (3/03/2023 7:40 pm)

     Thread Starter
 

3/03/2023 11:08 pm  #8


Re: GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

yes indeed - Women far exceeded expectations - congrats for a successful season.

 

3/04/2023 6:37 am  #9


Re: GW versus URI (A10 Tournament) Thread

Very proud of how the team performed this year. They certainly exceeded my personal expectations as well as expectations around the league (I think they were picked 12th in the preseason poll?). There's no shame in losing to this URI team and it's so hard to match up with their size. All three freshman signed for next season are listed as 6'1 and above so that could be an asset but I think McCombs would be wise to bring in some experience in the front court.

Curious to see who sticks around and who goes this offseason. I think the team will look pretty different next year but it remains to be seen how different it will look. Overall I am pleased with this season and am excited to watch the team continue to grow

 

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