Nicklas Heminger
Sports Editor
Both Rhode Island College’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams took on Castleton University Saturday, with both games opening Little East Conference play for the teams.
The Anchormen entered the game with a 2-6 record, with wins over Rivier University and Regis College. Despite the record, RIC have had tough battles that have seen them fall just short of finding the win. RIC entered the game in hopes of changing this misfortune and kicking off LEC action with a win.
The game started out with both teams exchanging baskets, with Nathaniel Maldonado leading the way scoring 10 points in the first six minutes to help the Anchormen jump out to a small lead. The lead would last for only four minutes as Castleton would knot the game up at 20 a piece. The Anchormen would pull away in the last 10 minutes of the first half, outscoring their opposition 24-14 over this time and taking a 44-34 lead into the break.
Maldonado led the way for the Anchormen posting a team-high 20 points on 7-10 shooting for the field, with two threes made. Anthony Rivera, Xavier Landers and Ousmane Kourouma all split a share of the team lead in rebounds with 3 each.
The second half started much like the first half with each team trading baskets, before RIC would go on a 14-6 run that saw their lead balloon to 20 points. Castleton never allowed RIC a chance to breath as a late push cut the lead down to 12, but that was the closest Castleton would get as the Anchormen won 82-70.
Maldonado led the team in scoring, posting a career-high 35 points along with 6 rebounds. Kourouma led the team in rebounds with 7, and posted 7 points as well. Rivera was the only other Anchormen in double figures posting 16 points.
The win moves the Anchormen to 3-6 on the young season, and are undefeated in LEC play.
The Anchorwomen entered action against Castleton 4-2, with their only losses coming to Smith College and Babson, who are ranked nationally sixth and seventeenth respectively.
The Anchorwomen looked to continue their winning ways and notch a win in their LEC opener, and started the game poised to do this allowing Castleton to only score six points in the first quarter. The Anchorwomen continued their dominant display opening the second quarter with nine straight points to push their lead to 21. RIC dominated the first half taking a 36-17 lead into halftime.
Angelina Nardolillo led the way for Anchorwomen, posting a team-high 11 points in the first half, along with a team-leading seven rebounds. Izabelle Booth and Antonia Corsinetti both helped on the offensive end, scoring six and five points respectively.
The third quarter went back and forth as both teams had no problem finding ways to score, but the Anchorwomen continued to hold a substantial lead. RIC entered the fourth quarter up 60-37, when momentum swung Castleton’s way. Castleton was able to outscore the Anchorwomen 19-7 throughout the quarter, but it just simply would not be enough and the Anchorwomen would coast to a 67-56 win. Nardolillo posted a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds, both team-highs. Jeniyah Jones was the only other Anchorwomen to score in the double figures with 11 points.
The win pushes the Anchorwomen to 5-2, and 1-0 in LEC play.
Both the Anchormen and Anchorwomen next play at home against University of Southern Maine on Wednesday, Dec. 7.