Women’s Basketball Falls to Rhode Island in Ocean State Tip-Off, 89-44

Saturday, December 7

Smithfield, R.I.

2:00 PM

Brown University

3-6,0-0Ivy League

Rhode Island

6-2,0-0Atlantic 10

Brown

Rhode Island

Women’s Basketball Falls to Rhode Island in Ocean State Tip-Off, 89-44

12/7/2019 4:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore forward Ashley Ducharme approached a double-double with nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, but Brown University women's basketball fell to the University of Rhode Island, 89-44, on Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the fourth annual Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament.

Playing at Bryant University's Chace Athletic Center, the Bears (3-6) remained within 19-14 at the end of the first quarter and 37-21 at halftime before the Rams (6-2) opened the second half on an 18-3 run to gain separation in the contest.

Brown will face host Bryant in the consolation game on Sunday at noon while URI will meet Providence in the championship game on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. PC topped Bryant, 76-32, in Saturday's first semifinal.

"We have a quick turnaround for our next game and have to get ready for Bryant," Brown head coach Sarah Behn said. "We had a close loss to Bryant earlier this season so hopefully we can reverse that result tomorrow."

Ducharme posted double-figure rebounds for the second time this season and nearly notched her first collegiate double-double with her nine points and 10 boards. Junior guard McKenna Dale (Storrs, Conn.) scored eight points with two rebounds.

Senior center Haley Green (Salem, Va.) contributed in multiple areas with four points, six rebounds, two assists, three steals, and two blocks. Sophomore forward Alana Kelley (Phoenix, Ariz.) chipped in five points and three rebounds, and freshman guard Lexi Love (Oakland, Calif.) distributed a team-high four assists with four points.

For Rhode Island, Marta Vargas posted 21 points and eight rebounds, Nicole Jorgensen notched 14 points and eight rebounds, Davida Dale tallied 12 points and eight rebounds, and Erin Jones compiled 10 points and seven assists.

For the game, URI shot 50.7 percent from the field (35-of-69) and 36.0 percent from 3-point distance (9-of-25) while Brown shot 27.3 percent from the floor (18-of-66) and 13.6 percent from 3-point distance (3-of-22).

Opening the first quarter, senior guard Justine Gaziano (Natick, Mass.) hit a corner 3-pointer, and Dale and Green both made baskets as the two teams stood tied at 7-7 at the 4:38 mark. After URI pulled ahead 17-11, junior guard Dominique Leonidas (Stone Mountain, Ga.) converted a 3-point play to trim the margin to 17-14 with 46 seconds left in the frame. The Rams led 19-14 at the end of one.

After the Rams scored the first seven points of the second quarter to move ahead 26-14, layups from Green and Dale stemmed the run and made the score 26-18 with 7:02 to go in the half. Ducharme netted the Bears' last three points of the first half as Brown trailed 37-21 at the break. URI closed the half on an 11-3 run.

In the first half, URI shot 41.0 percent from the field (16-of-39) while Brown shot 25.7 percent from the floor (9-of-35).

Despite a 3-pointer from Kelley, the Rams opened the second half on an 18-3 run taking a 55-24 lead. Layups from Dale, Love, and freshman forward Fiona Finn (West Roxbury, Mass.) and two free throws from sophomore guard Maddie Mullin (Wellesley, Mass.) made the score 61-32 heading to the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Ducharme scored six points, Mullin hit a 3-pointer, and Love finished a layup in transition.

Video of all Brown women's basketball home contests and all Ivy League games, home and away, will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

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.