2008 Woodie Awards
Women's basketball captures win at Charlotte
Matt Pavao
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Sports
02/26/08 - The University of Rhode Island's women's basketball team flashed its potential with a big 65-62 victory on the road at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Sunday.
"It's always big, especially when you're teetering on that level of consistency that we've had all season," head coach Tom Garrick said. "Going against a good team like Charlotte, and winning, lets you know the level of play that you can reach."
The big key in the game for Rhode Island was its opportunistic defense. Charlotte shot nearly 49 percent in the game but the Rams forced 27 turnovers. The turnovers lead to 23 points for URI.
"We played more consistently [on defense] and all of our success is predicated on that," Garrick said. "They played hard and sustained it. Our traps and our pressure defense worked a little bit. We tried to make them beat us instead of us beating ourselves."
Junior Amanda McGrew lead the Rams with 18 points on 6-10 shooting, including four three-pointers. She also led the team with four assists.
"Whenever we're successful we have a diversified group of scorers, but Amanda did well," Garrick said. "When her outside shot is falling it opens up the whole floor offensively. It opens up the lands for drive and kick opportunities, which is always good for us."
The Rams got their diversified attack with help from senior Safi Mojidi and junior Sierra Cooper who were the only other URI players in double figures. Mojidi had 15 points and Cooper had 12.
Despite the big upset, things didn't look good for Rhode Island early on as Charlotte jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead and eventually stretched that to a 27-15 lead halfway through the first half. Garrick just hoped that his team would hang on early and he was pleased at their effort to stick with it.
"There is the old cliché that basketball is a game of runs and we had to hold on during that run," Garrick said. "We had to weather the storm. They started quickly but we stymied the run and took the lead by half. "
Charlotte also cut the lead by one, 61-60, with a minute left but Mojidi sank four clutch-free throws to put the game away.
"They hit a couple of shots and we had some unforced turnovers," Garrick said. "I always thought that we were in control and I thought it was good about the way that we were staying aggressive."
The Rams have two games left in the season with a game at home on Wednesday against Duquesne University and on the road against St. Joseph's University on Saturday.
"Every game is big for us and I don't want to get ahead of myself but we would love to end the season at .500 in the conference," Garrick said. "We have to play a good Duquesne team and go play an always-tough St. Joe's team. It's not going to be easy for us but if we give the same effort that we did this weekend then we can do it."
"It's always big, especially when you're teetering on that level of consistency that we've had all season," head coach Tom Garrick said. "Going against a good team like Charlotte, and winning, lets you know the level of play that you can reach."
The big key in the game for Rhode Island was its opportunistic defense. Charlotte shot nearly 49 percent in the game but the Rams forced 27 turnovers. The turnovers lead to 23 points for URI.
"We played more consistently [on defense] and all of our success is predicated on that," Garrick said. "They played hard and sustained it. Our traps and our pressure defense worked a little bit. We tried to make them beat us instead of us beating ourselves."
Junior Amanda McGrew lead the Rams with 18 points on 6-10 shooting, including four three-pointers. She also led the team with four assists.
"Whenever we're successful we have a diversified group of scorers, but Amanda did well," Garrick said. "When her outside shot is falling it opens up the whole floor offensively. It opens up the lands for drive and kick opportunities, which is always good for us."
The Rams got their diversified attack with help from senior Safi Mojidi and junior Sierra Cooper who were the only other URI players in double figures. Mojidi had 15 points and Cooper had 12.
Despite the big upset, things didn't look good for Rhode Island early on as Charlotte jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead and eventually stretched that to a 27-15 lead halfway through the first half. Garrick just hoped that his team would hang on early and he was pleased at their effort to stick with it.
"There is the old cliché that basketball is a game of runs and we had to hold on during that run," Garrick said. "We had to weather the storm. They started quickly but we stymied the run and took the lead by half. "
Charlotte also cut the lead by one, 61-60, with a minute left but Mojidi sank four clutch-free throws to put the game away.
"They hit a couple of shots and we had some unforced turnovers," Garrick said. "I always thought that we were in control and I thought it was good about the way that we were staying aggressive."
The Rams have two games left in the season with a game at home on Wednesday against Duquesne University and on the road against St. Joseph's University on Saturday.
"Every game is big for us and I don't want to get ahead of myself but we would love to end the season at .500 in the conference," Garrick said. "We have to play a good Duquesne team and go play an always-tough St. Joe's team. It's not going to be easy for us but if we give the same effort that we did this weekend then we can do it."