2008 Woodie Awards
Women's basketball gets 'big' win over St. Bonaventure
Kayla Panu
Issue date: 1/24/08 Section: Sports
01/24/08 - Senior Safi Mojidi led the University of Rhode Island women's basketball team to its first Atlantic 10 win of the season last Saturday against St. Bonaventure University, 56-48.
"It was big," head coach Tom Garrick said. "It was a good win against a quality team. The significant thing was the really solid defense that followed good defense against George Washington University."
Mojidi scored a season high 30 points and was named the A-10 Women's Basketball Player of the Week.
"She deserved it," Garrick said. "She had a great week of games and was great in the win against St. Bonaventure."
The Rams came out strong, scoring the first eight points of the game. Mojidi and junior Crystal Bellinger both had two field goals in the first five minutes of play to take an 8-0 lead.
St. Bonaventure came back to tie the game at 12 and then continued to take the lead, 22-21, by the half.
The pivotal part of the game, Garrick said, was the second half. "There was a three-four minute stretch," he said. "Mojidi had a good offensive game and they hit the points down the stretch."
After trailing 28-23 in the first few minutes of the second half, junior Amanda McGrew scored four of six Rams points to take the 29-28 lead. They kept the game in their hands the rest of the way.
"Everybody contributed to the win," Garrick said. "Whitney Hollis had a good game. We are building as a team and with the defense."
Hollis had seven rebounds while the defense in general forced six turnovers.
St. Bonaventure attempted a comeback in the last few minutes, going on a 7-2 run, but came up short 50-46. URI took the final 56-48.
"Their focus and intensity has picked up and it is showing in the way we play," Garrick said about his team. He said the thing they still need to improve is communication on the floor.
They hope to use these improvements in Saint Louis. Garrick said that it was important to win on the home court but it's good to steal one on the road against a tough team.
"It was big," head coach Tom Garrick said. "It was a good win against a quality team. The significant thing was the really solid defense that followed good defense against George Washington University."
Mojidi scored a season high 30 points and was named the A-10 Women's Basketball Player of the Week.
"She deserved it," Garrick said. "She had a great week of games and was great in the win against St. Bonaventure."
The Rams came out strong, scoring the first eight points of the game. Mojidi and junior Crystal Bellinger both had two field goals in the first five minutes of play to take an 8-0 lead.
St. Bonaventure came back to tie the game at 12 and then continued to take the lead, 22-21, by the half.
The pivotal part of the game, Garrick said, was the second half. "There was a three-four minute stretch," he said. "Mojidi had a good offensive game and they hit the points down the stretch."
After trailing 28-23 in the first few minutes of the second half, junior Amanda McGrew scored four of six Rams points to take the 29-28 lead. They kept the game in their hands the rest of the way.
"Everybody contributed to the win," Garrick said. "Whitney Hollis had a good game. We are building as a team and with the defense."
Hollis had seven rebounds while the defense in general forced six turnovers.
St. Bonaventure attempted a comeback in the last few minutes, going on a 7-2 run, but came up short 50-46. URI took the final 56-48.
"Their focus and intensity has picked up and it is showing in the way we play," Garrick said about his team. He said the thing they still need to improve is communication on the floor.
They hope to use these improvements in Saint Louis. Garrick said that it was important to win on the home court but it's good to steal one on the road against a tough team.