Providence, R.I.—Junior forward
Angelina Nardolillo (Hinsdale, N.H.) was dominant in the paint with a team-high 19 points and nine rebounds as No. 3 Rhode Island College advanced to the NCAA Div. III Women's Basketball Championship Sectional Semifinal for the second straight season with a 66-43 win over St. John Fisher in second round tournament play held at The Murray Center on Saturday night.
THE BASICS
No. 3 Rhode Island College 66, St. John Fisher 43
Rhode Island College (29-0)
St. John Fisher (24-5)
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The first half was a rock fight between both clubs, which had won their previous matchups a night earlier at The Murray Center. A layup by fifth-year center
Neleesha Meunier (Leominster, Mass.) put RIC ahead by two, 12-10, at the end of the first quarter.
• The second quarter saw junior guard
Madison Medbury (Scituate, R.I.) bury a long three-pointer as the shot clock expired to keep the hosts ahead, 24-22, with 2:22 left in the stanza. The Cardinals tied the game, 24-24, but fifth-year guard
Jeniyah Jones (Randolph, Mass.) canned a jumper to close out the opening 20 minutes with the host holding a 27-24 advantage.
• The opening six minutes of the third quarter proved to be the decisive point in the game as RIC erupted for a 13-0 run to build a 40-25 lead and double-digit advantage that St. John Fisher would never recover from.
• In the fourth quarter, a three-pointer and jumper by graduate guard
Sophia Guerrier (Waltham, Mass.) and free throws by both fifth-year guard
Olivia Middleton (Barrington, R.I.) and junior forward
Maggie Schwab (Saunderstown, R.I.), gave the Anchorwomen their largest lead (30 points), 63-35, with just over two minutes left to play.
• Jones contributed 13 points, six boards, three assists and one steal. Guerrier chipped in with 12 points.
• The Anchorwomen established a new program record for wins in a season (29), surpassing the 2022-23 edition's previous mark of 28.
• RIC has won a program-record 29 consecutive games and 26 games at home.
WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will face Washington & Lee in the sectional semifinals on Friday, March 8 (TBD).
