La-Force hired as URI Women's Coach - '14-'15 Season

Ramblinrose · Unread post by **Ramblinrose** » 9 years ago

She seems very solid so far. Great start. Now ... can she recruit her son for Dan?

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 9 years ago

her son verballed to FSU

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

Congratulations to the women. They beat Bryant today 60-56. Have beaten all three D1 teams in RI this season.

http://www.providencejournal.com/sports ... onship.ece

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

Awesome. Give Thorr a high five and a thank you next time you see him.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 9 years ago

maybe the most surprising thing i saw today, 7 straight wins is just 1 behind the program record of 8 straight

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

Does anyone go to the games? If so, what is the main difference between this year and previous years? Is there a different style of play? Is freshman Charise Wilson that much of a difference maker?

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 9 years ago

Very impressed with the turnaround of this team. What a great hire by the AD!

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

Bring on UConn!

Well, not yet.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

I haven't been to a game yet.....but I will soon......

Ram99 · Unread post by **Ram99** » 9 years ago

RhowdyRam02,

Yes, Wilson makes a very big difference. She is a hard-nosed player who brings an attitude to the team. Beyond that, they are actually playing basketball. The dribble drive offense La-Force brought in gives the team a focus it has lacked for several years. The team actually is fun to watch. Wilson and Ward are legit players as freshman (Wilson is all-conference caliber, and Ward will be eventually), and there is an energy to the games that was lacking for years.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

Trailing by 16 points with 13 minutes to play, URI staged a great comeback to ring up an upset win 62-61 against Duquesne to go 1-0 in A10 Play. This was our 9th win of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!
We matched our best win total since the 2009-2010 Season with today's win. Last 5 years we have won no more than 2 total games in A10 Conference Play. What a difference a Coach can make.
2013-2014 = 7-23 (2-14)
2012-2013 = 6-23 (1-13)
2011-2012 = 1-28 (0-14)
2010-2011 = 7-21 (1-13)
2009-2010 = 9-20 (2-12)

Preseason A10 Coaches Poll
1. Dayton - 196 (14)
2. George Washington - 173
3. Saint Joseph’s - 156
4. St. Bonaventure - 153
5. Fordham - 143
6. Richmond - 104
7. Duquesne - 103
8. La Salle - 97
9. Saint Louis - 90
10. VCU - 87
11. George Mason - 54
12. Davidson - 42
13. Rhode Island - 39
14. Massachusetts - 24

Rhody74 · Unread post by **Rhody74** » 9 years ago

I know it's early, but La-Force must be considered for women's COY in the A10. What a turnaround.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

Let's start fretting about losing her to a BCS school........

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Gettin it done!

rhodyram74 · Unread post by **rhodyram74** » 9 years ago

Rod, she is definitely getting it done. To be able to enjoy both the men & women's team sporting winning records is something we haven't had in quite awhile. I suspect she is a master motivator besides being a terrific coach. With continued success in the A10, she should have recruits knocking on her door. Wilson is one outstanding freshman that has already made an impact.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

To turn around a program like that in ONE YEAR is truly amazing.

It's more than just the talent level, that's for sure.

I mean, most of the team are still holdovers from the previous coach. Wonder how good it will get once she's able to get a couple more years of recruits in here?

Who knows, the program might even get to where they can get 1000+ to the games. At Rhody, that would be a first.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

Jalissa Ross' Team has moved up to #6 Ranking in the Massachusetts Boston Globe Poll having gone 6-0 to date.

1 Braintree 5-0
2 Bishop Feehan 8-0
3 Duxbury 5-0
4 Archbishop Williams 4-2
5 Brockton 3-0
6 Fenway 6-0

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

I live in the area of those schools, but I admittedly know nothing about any of them. But how can there be a 2-loss team on that list? I'm sure there's a reason, just looks funny.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

TruePoint wrote:I live in the area of those schools, but I admittedly know nothing about any of them. But how can there be a 2-loss team on that list? I'm sure there's a reason, just looks funny.

This will help you get up to speed

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/ ... story.html

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

ramster wrote:
TruePoint wrote:I live in the area of those schools, but I admittedly know nothing about any of them. But how can there be a 2-loss team on that list? I'm sure there's a reason, just looks funny.
This will help you get up to speed
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/12/30/braintree-girls-basketball-beats-archbishop-williams/my3zovRKX7FuPahmUAXgBP/story.html

I'm not clicking that or reading it. Feel free to post the cliff notes, but honestly I'm not actually interested in the answer.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

La-forza azul wins again today over Davidson on the road !

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

Nice 71-62 win by URI with Freshman Charise Wilson leading the team with 22 points. URI was 20-25 on FTs for 80%

Amazing season so far

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

If Dan needs any more advice on helping his team shoot FT's, call Daynia.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

URI had lost 35 consecutive road games to Atlantic opponents until yesterday's victory.
Monumental progress for this program in a short amount of time.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Gotta be the most significant turnaround of a program at URI,
since Tom Penders took over for Brendan Malone back in 1986-87.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

....and Tom Penders had Brendan Malone's good recruits to work with when he got here.........La-Force has to build totally from the ground up.....making it even more impressive....

PeterRamTime · Unread post by **PeterRamTime** » 9 years ago

Does anyone know how she has done this? Looks like Wilson has a lot to do with it, but what else?

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 9 years ago

i'm not sure exactly but my guess is she really relates to the players well, look at rhody madness she's out there dancing and having fun with the players. I truly think the players enjoy plying for her and are giving max effort for her.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

They are now 11-6 with an OT win over LaSalle, 3-2 in the conference.

Amazing. They lost to the top team in the conference, GW, by only 10 last week. And GW is a projected 5 seed in the NCAA tourney.

Imagine next year, with a few good recruits on board.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

PeterRamTime wrote:Does anyone know how she has done this? Looks like Wilson has a lot to do with it, but what else?

PRT,
Charise Wilson is obviously a big part of the success as you said having received four A10 Freshmen of the Week awards already. She is averaging 34 minutes per game, 16 ppg and just under 5 rebounds per game.

Another key Freshman is Dominique Ward who has now started 11 consecutive games since being inserted into the Starting Line Up - she has played well.

A big difference from last year is that URI had 14 different starting line ups in their 30 games played - this year they have had only 5 different starting line ups in 17 games and some of those changes have been due to injuries. Much more stability.
Also, URI going with more minutes spread among fewer players - not spreading across 10 players like last year but having 4-5 players with 30 or more minutes each.

Starting Line up lately has been:
Charise Wilson - Freshman
Tayra Melendez - Junior
Dominique Ward - Freshman
Symone Bullard - Junior
Sydney Lewis - Senior

On the plus side, Samantha Tabakman 6'3" Junior is back after missing last 7 games with injury. She was back for the LaSalle game and played solidly off the bench with 5 rebounds and 9 points - good to have her back. She is an excellent rebounder. Consider also that we are 3-2 in A10 play without Samamtha so there is upside potential for A10 success - plus our 2 Freshmen continue to improve.

Senior Megan Straumann played great for 10 games this year before injury. She was averaging 8ppg, 3.4 rpg and 39% 3FG Shooting and was in the starting line up all 10 games.

BIG Game tonight (Tuesday) against Dayton 3-1 A10 and 11-4 overall and it is AT Dayton. URI is 3-2 A10 and 11-6 overall.
URI took a Charter Flight to Dayton for this game.
Some comparison scores:
Duquesne: Dayton beat at Home by 11...........URI beat at Home by 1
George Washington: Dayton lost at Home by 3.............URI lost AT GW by 10
Davidson: Dayton beat AT Davidson by 16..............URI beat AT Davison by 9

Should be a great game tonight.

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

URI and Dayton is on the A10 Network tonight starting at 6:50pm

http://www.atlantic10.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 9 years ago

Ouch.
Dayton 46 Rhode Island 15 at halftime in game being played at Dayton. Dayton passes the ball very well.

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 9 years ago

Will has a good feature in this week's Independent on the resurgance of the program at the hands of La-Force, Wilson: http://www.independentri.com/independen ... 663fe.html

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Happy Birthday, to Coach LaForce!!!

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

33 points for Charisse Wilson in victory over UMASS.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

Booyah!!!

URI96 · Unread post by **URI96** » 9 years ago

She should already have coach of the year locked up

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

Beat St. Joe's in OT last night 63-61. They are now 14-9 overall and 6-5 in league play. Just five games remaining in the regular season.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

Amazing

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

If Dan needs some advice on how to win close games, he should give Daynia a call.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

The men's team is 7-5 in games decided by less than 10, and 5-3 in games decided by less than 5. They're winning their share of close games.

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 9 years ago

rambone 78 wrote:If Dan needs some advice on how to win close games, he should give Daynia a call.

odd comment, almost all of our conference games have been close and we are 9-3. i am gonna roll the dice with DHs end of game decision making.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

Rhody is leading top A10 womens team Fordham right now early in the 2nd half by 5pts.

Live stats here:
http://www.gorhody.com/sports/w-baskbl/ ... 5_bh5o.xml

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 9 years ago

URI wins pretty handily 71-56

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

Pretty big win

Rhody74 · Unread post by **Rhody74** » 9 years ago

If La-Force doesn't get COY in the A10, there ought to be an investigation.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

http://www.providencejournal.com/articl ... aking_ajax

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

Still happily amazed at what's happened under La Force.

Running Ram · Unread post by **Running Ram** » 9 years ago

I hope the upward trend continues for the WBB team, it would be great to have some M/W doubleheaders next season and beyond where both games are 'important' (with post-season implications) to both home teams.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 9 years ago

First winning record in 11 years, awesome. Can she coach football too?