Nicklas Heminger
Sports Editor
The Rhode Island College Anchorwomen basketball team entered last week on an 18-game win streak and undefeated in Little East Conference play. The Anchorwomen faced two tough matchups, one on the road against Eastern Connecticut State and the other at home against UMass Boston.
The Anchorwomen traveled to Eastern Connecticut State to take on the Warriors, who like RIC are having quite the season. The Warriors entered this game 18-4 for the season, with their one loss in LEC play coming at the hands of RIC. The Anchorwomen entered hoping to extend their win streak to 19 games, and to remain undefeated in the LEC.
The game opened up slowly as RIC jumped out to a 6-4 lead with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. Shortly after, the Warriors mounted an 11-0 run that saw the lead change and Eastern Connecticut State up 15-6. The Anchorwomen halted the Warriors’ run, but found themselves trailing at the end of the first quarter 19-11.
The Warriors opened the second quarter with an 8-0 run that ballooned their lead to 16 points. The Warrior lead grew to as many as 21 points, before a late run by the Anchorwomen cut the lead to only 12 points. Izabelle Booth led the Anchorwomen in scoring, at the half, posting 11 points along with two rebounds. Madison Medbury grabbed a team-high four rebounds.
The Anchorwomen cut the Warriors’ lead to only single digits early in the third quarter, but the Warriors had a response for every RIC basket. A back and forth third quarter ended with RIC trailing the hosts, 53-40. The fourth quarter saw RIC push to close the Warrior lead, but Eastern Connecticut State held firm and ended the Anchorwomen’s 18-game win streak by a final score of 66-56.
Medbury and Booth were the only Anchorwomen to score in double figures, posting 17 and 12 respectively. Medbury also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds with Angelina Nardolillo close behind grabbing six of her own.
The Anchorwomen hosted UMass Boston next, with hopes of getting back into the win column after their loss earlier in the week. The Beacons entered the game having a 12-11 record, with five of those wins from LEC matchups.
Both teams struggled to find the basket early in the game, with RIC scoring first as a little under seven minutes remained in the quarter. RIC would dominate from that point, allowing the Beacons only five points in the quarter while scoring 19 of their own.
The second quarter was much of the same as the first for the Anchorwomen. An 18-3 run midway through the quarter would expand RIC’s lead to 27 points, as they would take a 41-14 lead into the break. Jeniyah Jones and Nardolillo would lead the Anchorwomen in points at half with nine apiece. Jones also grabbed a team-leading seven rebounds. Neleesha Meunier and Booth chipped in six points each.
The Anchorwomen and Beacons traded baskets to open up the third quarter, but a 9-0 run midway through saw RIC comfortably sitting on a 36 point lead. RIC would expand on the lead, pushing it to as many as 42 when the quarter ended. The Anchorwomen dominated defensively, throughout the fourth quarter, as they held the Beacons to only six points in the quarter. The Anchorwomen held the Beacons to single figures in three of the four quarters. RIC cruised to a 75-30 win.
RIC posted three players scoring in double figures. Nardolillo led the team with 13 points to go with seven rebounds. Jones had 11 points to go along with a team-high nine rebounds, and Meunier posted 10 points. Booth added eight points, while Antonia Corsinetti and Jayda Bing each had seven points of their own.
The Anchorwomen host UMass Dartmouth for Senior Night on Wednesday. The Anchorwomen then travel to Plymouth State to close out the regular season Saturday.