Rams Fall to Alabama in March Madness Opening Round
The University of Rhode Island (URI) women’s basketball team had an impressive season. Their journey in the NCAA Tournament ended in the opening round against Alabama.
The Rams, known for their strong defense and record-breaking performance this year, just couldn’t overcome the Crimson Tide. They lost 68-55, which stings a bit, but it was also their first March Madness appearance since 1996—a huge milestone for the program.
URI’s Historic Season
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This season was honestly historic for the University of Rhode Island women’s basketball team. The Rams set new records, finishing with a 28-5 overall record and a 16-2 record in Atlantic 10 (A-10) play.
Head coach Tammi Reiss said she was proud of her team’s accomplishments. She emphasized that this was the best season the program has seen in at least 30 years.
Key Achievements
- 28-5 Overall Record
- 16-2 in A-10 Play
- First NCAA Tournament Appearance Since 1996
The NCAA Tournament Game
In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, URI faced No. 6 Alabama at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The Rams hit some tough shooting slumps during the second and third quarters, and that really cost them.
Alabama’s size and their paint game made a big difference. The Crimson Tide just kept finding ways to score inside.
Challenges Faced
Alabama outscored URI 42-12 in the paint and shot over 50% from the field. That physical mismatch was tough to watch at times.
Even though the Rams forced turnovers and limited Alabama’s three-point shooting, they couldn’t defend the paint well enough. On offense, URI just couldn’t get much going, shooting only 32.8% from the floor and 26.1% from deep.
Key Moments in the Game
The Rams had rough scoring droughts in both the second and third quarters. In the second quarter, URI went over eight minutes without a field goal, and Alabama took advantage, building a big lead.
The third quarter wasn’t much kinder. Another cold stretch kept the Rams from closing the gap.
Second Quarter Struggles
After trimming the deficit to 16-13 at the end of the first quarter, URI didn’t make another field goal until just 1:32 remained in the second quarter. They managed only free throws during that stretch, and Alabama pushed their lead to 30-21 by halftime.
Third Quarter Slump
URI showed some fight by cutting Alabama’s lead to 36-32 early in the third. But then the Crimson Tide went on a 12-0 run, and suddenly the game felt out of reach.
Coach Tammi Reiss mentioned how quickly things can change. She said a timeout revealed a 14-point deficit that seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Looking Ahead
The NCAA Tournament run didn’t end the way the Rams hoped, but there’s a lot to look forward to. Coach Reiss talked about the importance of keeping this momentum going.
This team has shown they can compete with some of the best. The experience from this season should help them take another step next year.
Building on Success
Coach Reiss and her team want to keep the high standards they’ve set this season. They’re not just looking to repeat what worked—they’re hoping to create a program that sticks around and keeps competing at the top.
The foundation is there. Now, Rhode Island basketball faces the challenge of sustaining and growing this success.
For more details on the game and the Rams’ season, you can read the full article on the Independent website.