Jamila Coleman
Anchor Staff Writer
Rhode Island College’s women’s basketball team hosted Babson College on Wednesday in a non-conference home opener at the Murray Center. Prior to this game, the Anchorwomen had an 1-1 record, with a season-opening win against The College of New Jersey, 78-68, and a Nov. 13 loss to Smith College, 41-76. As for Babson, they were 1-0 going into this game. They won their season opener, an away game, against Eastern Connecticut State on Nov. 12.
As the game got underway, Babson didn't hesitate to get a lead on the Anchorwomen. It seemed that both teams were neck and neck until about three minutes into the first quarter, when Babson junior forward Madison Odam, from San Jose, California, drained a three to give the Beavers a lead. From there, Babson maintained their lead and handed the Anchorwomen a 34-62 loss.
Though the Anchorwomen only scored single digits in three of the four quarters played, sophomore forward Angelina Nardolillo led the team in points and tied for rebounds with teammate and senior forward Izabelle Booth. Nardolillo scored eight points, and both her and Booth grabbed 12 rebounds. Booth also scored seven points.
As for the specifics in the game, the Anchorwomen did show some heart, out scoring the Beavers by six in the last quarter. In the three quarters prior, the Beavers outscored the Anchorwomen by at least six points each, with the first and third quarters being the biggest scoring differences, at 14 points a piece.
Kelly Walsh, from Goffstown, New Hampshire, who is a junior guard for the Beavers, scored a team-high 17 points. Alongside her 17 points, she grabbed four boards and got six steals. Odam, Walsh’s teammate, scored 15 points and snagged 12 rebounds, earning her a double-double.
The Anchorwomen next took on the Endicott College Gulls in non-conference action. RIC jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter, posting a 21-8 lead heading into the second quarter.
The Gulls battled back midway through the second quarter and cut RIC’s lead to 10. The Anchorwomen would finish the quarter strong though, outscoring Endicott by six points, and being up by 16 before the second half. During the first half, Booth would lead the way for the Anchorwomen, posting a team-high 13 points and 8 rebounds.
The Gulls would close the lead to 12 points midway through the third quarter, but just couldn’t overcome the Anchorwomen’s commanding lead.
RIC would defeat Endicott 66-47. Booth would end the game with a double-double, scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, to help the Anchorwomen secure this win.
The Anchorwomen’s next match will be an away game at Bridgewater State University in Bridgwater, Massachusetts on Tuesday at 7:30 pm.