Brown University
6-1
Rhode Island
2-4
Mehta's Shooting Propels Women's Hoops Past Rhode Island, 67-63
12/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Freshman Shayna Mehta scored a career-high 21 points and hit 6-of-9 shots from 3-point distance to lead Brown University women's basketball past in-state rival the University of Rhode Island, 67-63, on Tuesday night at the Pizzitola Sports Center.
The Bears (6-1) used the 3-point shot to their advantage en route to their win over the visiting Rams (2-4) as the hosts made three straight treys to close the second quarter, converted back-to-back triples to finish the third, and received a pair of 3-pointers from Mehta (San Francisco, Calif.) inside of the final four minutes.
"Shayna's really calm and does some phenomenal things. I credit her teammates – They moved the ball a lot better against the zone," Brown head coach Sarah Behn said. "I'm grateful for the contributions of so many kids. We're working hard and even the kids who aren't getting as many reps are pushing each other in practice."
At 6-1 overall, the Bears are off to their best start through seven games since the team began the 2004-05 season with a 6-1 mark. Brown holds a 5-0 record at home on the year.
"I'm really pleased with the direction of the program," Behn said. "Today, a couple of things went our way, and we'll just keep taking it one day at a time and hope to get better."
Mehta scored over 20 points for the first time in her career and added six rebounds while senior Jordin Alexander (Fishers, Ind.) posted 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Junior Rebecca Musgrove (Plainview, N.Y.) compiled 10 points, nine boards, and four assists, and sophomore Janie White (Clarksville, Tenn.) filled the stat sheet with eight points, nine boards, four blocks, and three assists.
Freshman Mary Butler (Bangor, Maine) provided the Bears with energy off the bench finishing with eight points and eight rebounds while classmate Erika Steeves (Montreal, Quebec) chipped in eight points and four assists.
After falling behind 40-37 early in the third quarter, the Bears responded with a 7-0 run behind a transition jumper and driving layup from Alexander and a 3-pointer from Mehta to go ahead 44-40 at the 5:43 mark.
URI grabbed a 45-44 edge, but Brown closed the third quarter with back-to-back treys from Musgrove and White – via passes from Alexander and Musgrove – to claim a 50-45 lead through three.
A second-chance bucket from Musgrove with 5:45 to play in the fourth quarter gave Brown its first lead of more than two possessions in the final frame, 57-50. Mehta hit Brown's last two field goals of the game – both from 3-point distance – to put the hosts up 60-54 and 63-56. The Bears made enough free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Closing the first half, the Bears hit three straight 3-pointers inside of the second quarter's final 95 seconds to turn a 32-25 deficit into a 34-32 lead at the half. White knocked down the first shot from distance before Mehta connected on a pair of shots from behind the arc – with the second coming just before the buzzer.
Brown trailed 20-11 after the first stanza with URI opening the game with a 16-5 lead. The Bears pulled within 28-23 at the midway mark of the second period with a 7-0 run which included jump shots from Butler and Alexander and a corner 3-pointer from Musgrove.
Next, Brown hosts Binghamton University on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Pizzitola Sports Center before playing at Bryant University on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Tickets for all Brown women's basketball games can be purchased online, by calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or by walking up to the box office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
