Tammi Reiss’ URI Rams outlasted the UMass Minutewomen to move to 3-0 in Atlantic 10 play and into a tie for first place.
Rhody came out strong, getting 9 points from Emmanuelle Tahane and 8 points from Dolly Cairns en route to a 24-8 lead at the end of the 1st quarter.
UMass fought back in the 2nd half, behind a game-high 25 points from Sam Breen, and had cut the deficit to 6 at the end of three quarters.
The Rams got 3-pt Field Goals from Chanell Williams, and Marie-Paule Foppossi in the 4th quarter but UMass cut the lead to just 2 points with under 2:30 to play.
In stepped Cairns, who hit her second three of the quarter to increase the Rhody lead to 5, and Williams iced the game with four free throws.
Cairns scored 21 points to lead URI to their 15th straight home victory, while Tahane added 15 points and Foppossi dropped 12.
