SPORTS
3-0 in A-10 Play, Davidson Women’s Basketball Downs Rhode Island 79-67
Katie Turner shows the intensity of the ‘Cats during their game vs. the Rhode Island Rams.
DAVIDSON, N.C. — Led by Suzi-Rose Deegan’s 21 points, five Wildcats scored in double figures and Davidson used a pair of runs in the second half to pull away from Rhode Island in taking a 79-67 victory Sunday afternoon in Atlantic 10 play inside John M. Belk Arena.
Rosie Deegan led the ‘Cats with 21 points vs. the Rams.
For the second consecutive season, the Wildcats open league play 3-0 while they improved to 10-6 overall with their third straight win.
Down 50-49 with 5:05 left in the third quarter, the ‘Cats ran off a 9-0 spurt to take back the lead for good and ended the quarter up 58-55.
They then opened the fourth quarter scoring the first seven points to go up 10 (65-55) and finished the run off at 15-6 for a 73-61 lead with 3:34 left in the game. The ‘Cats never looked back in picking up the 12-point win.
Adelaide Fuller taking it to the basket.
Deegan tallied her fourth 20-point outing of the season, drilling 8-of-18 shots and pulling in a team-high eight rebounds.
Fellow Australian and classmate Adelaide Fuller followed up her 18-point outing Wednesday vs. Fordham with another 18-point game off the bench by hitting 8-of-13 shots to go with five rebounds. She had 12 of her points in the second half and sparked the 9-0 run in the third with a three-ball at the top of the key.
The duo of Katie Turner (eight assists) and Chloe Welch scored 13 points apiece, while Cassidy Gould netted 12 off the bench.
Rhode Island (8-7, 1-2 A-10) was paced by Nicole Jorgensen’s 32 points and 11 rebounds. Erin Jones scored 19 and Davida Dale pulled in 10 rebounds, scored eight points and dished out six assists.
The game featured eight lead changes (four in the third quarter) and three ties, which all came in the third quarter.
Cass Gould powered past the Rams for 12 points.
Both teams shot nearly identical, with the Wildcats going 31-of-63 (49.2 percent) and the Rams finishing at 30-of-62 (48.4 percent).
URI opened the game hitting 7-of-10 shots to grab an early 19-10 lead on the Wildcats with 2:55 in the first quarter. Davidson responded over the next six minutes, carrying into the second quarter, with a 19-7 run to take a 29-26 lead. Turner capped off the first half with a driving layup in a crowd as time was ticking down in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 35-34 lead at the break.
Davidson will next travel to George Mason for a mid-week game against the Patriots Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 7 p.m.
GAME NOTES: This was the ninth meeting all-time between both team’s women’s basketball programs …. Davidson broke the tie today, moving to 5-4 in the series and has won five of the last six meetings … Deegan’s double-figure scoring streak reached nine straight … she has scored in double figures in 12 of the last 13 games overall … Deegan’s eight rebounds gives her 48 now in the past four games … the Wildcats tied a team season-high with six blocks … it was the ninth time this year the Wildcats have had at least three double figure scores and third time with five or more in a game … the ‘Cats are 8-0 when scoring 70 or more points.
Chloe Welch for 3.