3/23 | WBB – Harvard | 7:00PM (ESPN3) | NIT Super 16

[spookydog]

University of Rhode Island vs Harvard University
NIT Tournament – Super 16
Lavietes Pavilion, Cambridge, MA
Thursday, March 23, 2023
7:00PM

Media
TV: N/A
Online: ESPN3
App: Varsity Network

Previews
Harvard Fan Forum
Another Potential Fan Forum


The University of Rhode Island women’s team sets another record Monday night by winning their second consecutive (& second ever) postseason game & advancing to the WNIT Super 16. Such an exciting season for Tammi Reiss & her Rams. Rhody will now head north to Cambridge to take out the Harvard Crimson. This game is a rematch of the first game of the season where the Rams lost at Harvard by 14 points. Hopefully the Rams can exact some revenge by winning this contest.

Harvard is led by unanimous All-Ivy First Team sophomore Harmoni Turner. Last year’s Rookie of the Year is a great all-around player who will be a match-up problem for the Rams. At the end of the regular season, Turner finished fourth in the conference in scoring (16.2), ninth in rebounding (5.7), fourth in assists (3.9), third in steals (2.6), & second in free throw percentage at 84.4 percent. When these teams squared off to open the season, she went for 31/5/5. Oh by the way, in a blowout win against Towson in the opening round of the WNIT she went for a triple double with 21 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. She was just two rebounds shy of another triple double against UMass Monday night when she went for 15/8/11. Some good news for Rhody is that she is a bit turnover prone with about three and a half per game & she had 7 against Rhody. Conversely, she has been taking better care of the ball as of late, with just 9 total turnovers over her last four games. Along with Turner, another player to keep an eye on is Lola Mullaney. The All-Ivy Second Team junior is second on the team in scoring with 14.4 per game & is the team’s biggest threat from deep. Her & guard McKenzie Forbes (13.8 points per game) are the Crimson’s version of Sophie Phillips & Dolly Cairns from behind the arc. The Harvard duo hit a combined 140 threes while the Rhody duo hit a combined 113 threes (with Phillips playing minimally to start the season & Cairns missing 4 games due to a concussion). Another player to keep an eye on is Elena Rodriguez, who is fourth on the team in scoring with 11 per contest. Although listed as a guard, she is 6’ 2” (same height as Toure) and is leading the Crimson in rebounding at almost 7 per game. As you can see Harvard has a very balanced scoring attack with four players averaging 11 or more.

After struggling from the field in the first round of the WNIT, Rhody’s offense started clicking on all cylinders against Richmond Monday night. The Rams hit 13 threes which is tied for the fifth most in a single game in program history. What I found even more impressive was that they had 21 assists on 26 field goals. Sophie Phillips had a hell of a game, scoring 20 on 7 of 10 shooting. I want to give a special shoutout to freshman Anaelle Dutat. She had some big offensive rebounds Monday night which led to extended possessions. In her last 7 games she is averaging over 9 rebounds per game.

Can Rhody get the road win in Cambridge? This is going to be a tall order. The Rams have lost 7 in a row at Harvard with the last win coming in December of 1995. Harvard’s offense is playing at a very high-powered pace, averaging over 90 points per game in the postseason so far. Can the Rams slow down Harmoni Turner & the Crimson? If they play like they did against Richmond, they can get the win. If they play like the did the opening round against Boston University, it is very unlikely. Winner of this game will get the winner of the Syracuse vs Columbia. If both road teams win it would be a Rhode Island vs Syracuse Great 8 game where Tammi Reiss goes up against her former employer as she was an assistant coach from 2015-2019. Let’s make that happen. My prediction URI 73 – Harvard 70. Go Rhody!!



Opponent
Record:
19-11, 9-5 in the Ivy League
13-14, 7-7 in the Ivy League (Last Season)


Rankings (URI):
NCAA NET: 78 (71)
RPI: 54 (48)

Leaders:
Points – Harmoni Turner 16.2 (Soph., G)
Rebounds – Elena Rodriguez 6.9 (Soph. G)
Assists – Harmoni Turner 4.4 (Soph., G) (3.4 TO per game)

URI Leaders:
Points – Maye Toure 13.5 (Jr., F)
Rebounds – Maye Toure 8.5 (Jr. F)
Assists – Sayawni Lassiter 4.6 (Sr., G) (2.4 TO per game)


Historical
Series: 9-11
H: 7-4, A: 2-7, N: 0-0
Most Recent Matchup: 11/7/22 88-74 L at Harvard
Most Recent Win Streak: 1 – Harvard

[Trousers 2]

Better go zone coach,Harvard going to chew up that man to man.(woman to woman)

[ATPTourFan]

Spooky, you legend!!

[jcru]

Excellent write up.

URI is going to have to put the same kind of effort into beating Harvard, as they would have had to try and beat UMass.

Against Richmond, you saw all of their attributes come together. No lag at the beginning, the shots were falling, the defense was on point, they easily won the steals and rebounding advantages. They need the same kind of effort just to get to the wire against Harvard, like UMass did, and have a chance at the end.

I fear, the home court advantage might be the difference, that would really be a shame.

[Jersey77]

Good job Spooky.

Yes we have the opportunity for a little revenge since our first game loss to them 74-88.
Forbes, Mullaney, Rodriquez, and Turner will all be a handful for us.
Turner as Spooky said above almost had a triple double against UMass, and she had 31 pts against us.

For us to win we must really defend well, especially from 3pt.
Against UMass they shot an amazing 54% 3pt, 55 % FG
Against us they shot 46% 3pt, 51% FG

[jcru]

Against Richmond, they just had to keep a hand in their 3 point shooters faces at all times, and they pretty much neutralized that threat.

UMass against Harvard last night, UMass was doing the same thing to Harvard as we did to Richmond, and even with a hand in their face, they were still knocking down threes. So, a hand in the face is the absolute minimum you need. And then you hope for some luck....

[jcru]

The problem with facing a terrific 3 pt shooting team, on their home court, is that they are very familiar with their own court's baskets.

[Billyboy78]

Too bad we couldn't have this at home due to prior commitments at the RC. Keaney Gym would have been the perfect place to play given the size of yesterday's crowd. The noise in Keaney would be deafening with that crowd. That would have been a HUGE home court advantage like the old days for the men.

[spookydog]

Too bad we couldn't have this at home due to prior commitments at the RC. Keaney Gym would have been the perfect place to play given the size of yesterday's crowd. The noise in Keaney would be deafening with that crowd. That would have been a HUGE home court advantage like the old days for the men.

Since it was converted to a fulltime volleyball court, I wonder if they still have the proper flooring with the correct basketball lines.

[Billyboy78]

Too bad we couldn't have this at home due to prior commitments at the RC. Keaney Gym would have been the perfect place to play given the size of yesterday's crowd. The noise in Keaney would be deafening with that crowd. That would have been a HUGE home court advantage like the old days for the men.

Since it was converted to a fulltime volleyball court, I wonder if they still have the proper flooring with the correct basketball lines.

I don't know. I just would love to experience Keaney one more time.

[PeterRamTime]

Just learning that the WNIT has a 64 team field!

I like that for women's basketball. Makes sense because the P5 dominates so it's hard for teams like Rhody to get an at large. Gives the WNIT more meaning.

Big accomplishment if we can win the whole thing and we'd finish with 30 wins!

[jcru]

It seems like you have 3 levels in women's college basketball:

NCAA
NIT
everyone else

URI with the help of Tammi has just entered the ground level of that 2nd tier. Only A-10 team of 5 to reach the 3rd round is heady stuff. Need to keep her, and keep advancing as much as humanly possible, each year, every year. Keep pushing. At some point they'll reach that "deep in the NIT tourney" slash "auto-bid or bubble bid to the NCAA tourney" zone, which is where they want to get to next.

[Rhody72]

It seems like you have 3 levels in women's college basketball:

NCAA
NIT
everyone else

URI with the help of Tammi has just entered the ground level of that 2nd tier. ...

I think you have it right. Consider that A10's tournament champ SLU lost to a #4 seed Tennessee by 40 points. Also. WBB A10 conference as a whole has a higher rank than the MBB A10 conference as a whole.

[ramster]

It seems like you have 3 levels in women's college basketball:

NCAA
NIT
everyone else

URI with the help of Tammi has just entered the ground level of that 2nd tier. ...

I think you have it right. Consider that A10's tournament champ SLU lost to a #4 seed Tennessee by 40 points. Also. WBB A10 conference as a whole has a higher rank than the MBB A10 conference as a whole.

Actually it was 45 points 95-50.

[steviep123]

I'm so bummed I can't go - I live about 5 or so miles from Harvard and unfortunately my wife works late on Thursdays so am on dad duty.

[section(105)]

Beep Beep, URI Alumni Association has announced bus trip, reception etc to Harvard!! Game tickets from Harvard Athletics, $65 for bus, food, one drink. Going!

[Rhody72]

I really liked what was said in the the presser following the UR game by Tammi, Sophie and Emmi. Sophie and Emmi know their roles: get open and shoot the ball. Take good shots and never let missed shots stop you from taking the next open shot. Tammi wanted this rematch of their first game this year when roles rotation etc were not established. URI lost to Harvard by 14, Harvard loss twice to Princeton, URI almost won at Princeton. This game is winnable,

[ATPTourFan]

Let's Go!

[Trousers 2]

Going need point’s tonight Dolly and Sophie should be in at the same time 2 of best 3pt shooters in the atl 10.

[Trousers 2]

I no with certain people it’s all about defense defense defense but you still got to out score the other team in this sport.

[PeteRI]

Why isn't this game on ESPN+?!

[PeteRI]

Found it.

[PeteRI]

Jesus Harvard is on fire

[Billyboy78]

You guys still think Dolly should be playing over Sophie?

[PeteRI]

But so are we!

[theblueram]

Great game so far!!! High octane offenses!

[Billyboy78]

Sophie with 11 points in 6 minutes. What a shooter!

[PeteRI]

17-4 run! SOPHIE!!

[ATPTourFan]

Let’s gooo!! Great first quarter!

[theblueram]

Great URI crowd behind the bench. Well represented!!!!!!

[ATPTourFan]

That was a bomb!! 29-22 Rams

[ATPTourFan]

Yeah!! 33-22 Rhody forces a Crimson timeout.

[theblueram]

Team is on FIRE!!!

[PeteRI]

9-0 to make it a 24-5 run as Lady Rams lead by 11! Everything is working right now - offense, defense, special teams!

[PeteRI]

Best passing I've seen in ages! Beautiful bounce passes especially lead to easy buckets. A thing of beauty so far.

[PeteRI]

Our depth can wear them down.

[PeteRI]

Harvard clawing back into the game.

[ATPTourFan]

Nice play out of the time out.

[PeteRI]

7-0 run for Harvard.

[PeteRI]

Harvard suffocating defense on Sophie leads to 9-0 run. 2 point Rhody lead at the half

[ATPTourFan]

What a battle.

[PeteRI]

Can't ask for a more exciting game. I still believe our depth will wear down Harvard.

[PeteRI]

Are you not entertained?!

[jcru]

URI looked like they were going to dominate, up as many as 11, I believe.

But they petered out of gas. A couple of three point shots didn't fall for Philips and Co and then they just stopped putting them up all together.

Toure was having a great game, her sub, Magassa looked like she was struggling out there a bit at the end. Costly 3 sec violation and just having a tough time reaching the basket at points.

[jcru]

The players at the end of the half were out there for a very long time without substitution. It was very un-Tammi like, with her bench.

I wonder if this is some sort of Tammi misdirection.

[jcru]

URI is a second half team. I'm not sure Harvard closing the gap at the end makes that much of a difference. If they could close the gap then, they could close the gap later. It's nice to have a big lead, but it's much nicer in the 4th period than the 2nd.

Now, she has a lot of motivation for her team to come out of the gates. This game will likely go down to the wire like the Harvard v UMass game did.

[PeteRI]

Say has to stop chucking 3s

[PeteRI]

Turner with suffocating D on Sophie.

[PeteRI]

Rhody up 54-52 after 3. LFG LADIES!!!!

[PeteRI]

Say sloppy play there.