JWU Women's Basketball Falls to Rhode Island College, 78-55

Providence, R.I. – The Johnson & Wales University women's basketball squad dropped a 78-55 decision against intra-state rival Rhode Island College in a non-conference contest at the Murray Center on Tuesday evening.

Rhode Island College was paced by sophomore Rachel Riley (Coventry, R.I.) with nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds while senior Alice Mullen (Saunderstown, R.I.) added 13 points and seven caroms for the Anchorwomen. Sophomore Stephanie Coro (North Providence, R.I.) was also in double figures with 10 points and four boards in the victory. Freshman Allyson Dowen (Burlington, Vt.) led the way for Johnson & Wales with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists while senior Alexia Ramirez (San Marcos, Calif.) added 15 points and seven boards for the Wildcats. Junior Katurah Andrews (Hartford, Conn.) also tallied a double-double in the setback, tallying 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Rhode Island College controlled the action in the early stages of the game, taking a 20-13 lead on a layup by Jenn Knott (Narragansett, R.I.) with 11:35 left in the half. Johnson & Wales responded, however and took their first lead of the game after an 8-0 run when a pair of free throws by Dowen gave the squad the 21-20 advantage with 9:13 on the clock. The Anchorwomen then closed out the stanza on a 21-6 run while holding JWU without a field goal in the last 10:38 of the first en route to a 41-27 advantage heading in to the locker room at halftime. RIC shot 48.1% from the field, including six three pointers while holding JWU to just 30% from the field with 11 turnovers.

Johnson & Wales chipped away at the lead and a pair of free throws by Dowen closed the Wildcats to within 46-37 with 14:14 remaining in the contest. A 15-2 run by the Anchorwomen, capped by a layup by senior Denise Scott (Yonkers, N.Y.) gave the team their biggest lead of the game, 61-39 with just under 10 minutes left in the game. RIC led by as many as 29 points (72-43) late in the second half before cruising to the 78-55 victory.

With the loss Johnson & Wales falls to 2-3 on the season while Rhode Island College remains perfect at 5-0 for the year. The Wildcats will return to action on Thursday, December 3rd when they host Roger Williams in a non-conference contest at the Harborside Recreation Center at 7:00 p.m. RIC will host Connecticut College in a non-conference contest at Thursday at 7:00 p.m.