Swish Appeal - 2016 Atlantic 10 TournamentBasketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2016-03-06T20:28:21-05:00http://www.swishappeal.com/rss/stream/109220392016-03-06T20:28:21-05:002016-03-06T20:28:21-05:00Ticket punched: George Washington
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<figcaption>Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Duquesne gave a great fight for George Washington. Once the second half started, the Colonials rallied back to take the lead and keep the Dukes away from making a run against them. The defense from George Washington kept Duquesne scoreless for over seven minutes. A last second shot from the Dukes would bring the victory home to the Colonials. </p> <p></p>
<p><b>Richmond, VA -- </b>After watching Duquesne make 11 three-pointers in the first three quarters, George Washington's defensive adjustments made all the difference in the final period; the Colonials only allowed one field goal in the fourth, en route to a 63-60 win in today's Atlantic 10 Championship game. This is their second consecutive season reigning as tournament champions.</p>
<p>"We know we can play a certain way, and we know we can get a win in a game where we have to fight and scrap," Hannah Schaible alluded to George Washington's necessary shift in intensity after cruising to easier wins against George Mason and VCU.</p>
<p>Schaible led the way offensively with 17 points, but it was her defense that impacted the game most. Deva'Nyar Workman torched the Colonials for 18 points in the first 30 minutes, but was held to one point thereafter once George Washington coach Jonathan Tsipis entrusted Schaible with the tough task of defending her.</p>
<p>Duquesne's first trip to the A-10 title game started promisingly; the Dukes led for much of the game until the closing stanza. Co-Player of the Year April Robinson got off to a quick start, scoring five points in the opening minutes. She and Amadea Szamosi, sparked the Dukes on offense, and a quick barrage of threes helped establish an early Duquesne lead.</p>
<p>But Robinson quickly cooled off from the field, especially once Jonquel Jones was subbed into the game three minutes into the contest. Jones instantaneously shored up the Colonial defense; the Dukes missed 12 of their 14 shots after her substitution, going six minutes without a basket after their quick start in the first.</p>
<p>Thankfully for Duquesne, the Colonials were having their own shooting struggles. George Washington was focused on getting the ball into the post early, almost force-feeding Jones in the paint, but it resulted in more turnovers than points for the 2015 A-10 Player of the Year.</p>
<p>The Colonials caught a break when Szamosi collected her second foul a minute into the second, sending what was previously Duquesne's best scoring threat of the quarter to the bench. However, Kadri-Ann Lass and Angela Staffileno picked up the slack for the Dukes, contributing 15 points between the two of them.</p>
<p>On the other end, Jones finally found her stride, sparking a five-minute run where George Washington made all six of their field goal attempts, with Jones assisting or scoring on each one.</p>
<p>The Dukes ended the half with a Staffileno three ball, stretching the lead to seven before the half.</p>
<p>George Washington came out of the break much more aggressive on the offensive rebounds, extending possessions and looking more and more like the team that had breezed through the earlier two rounds. Two quick fouls to Szamosi and her size took her out of the game, feeding right into the Colonial's size advantage.</p>
<p>George Washington capitalized, tying the game on a Lauren Chase layup before a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Robinson re-established the Duquesne lead; it was Robinson's first field goal since the first quarter.</p>
<p>Jones attempted a fourth quarter takeover, but missed shots and turnovers prevented the team from taking full advantage of Duquesne's dreadful fourth quarter shooting. Jones made up for it on the defensive end, though, blocking four Duquesne shots in the quarter.</p>
<p>Two of those rejections came from a 90-second sequence where Jones single-handedly changed the momentum of the game. Her offensive rebound put-back gave George Washington a four-point lead, then her block on Szamosi set up a fast break short corner jumper to give the Colonials their biggest lead of the game at six. Jones sent back another shot on the ensuing possession, giving, even more, life to the already crazed Colonial bench.</p>
<p>Duquesne got the benefit of a travel call on Caira Washington during a scuffle for a loose rebound, eventually sending Workman to the line for a chance to make it a one-possession game. But her second free throw found iron, giving the Colonials a three-point lead with only 17 seconds on the clock.</p>
<p>However, the Dukes smothered everyone on the inbounds play, forcing a five-second violation that gave Duquesne one last chance to tie. The Dukes put the ball into the hands of their playmaker, running Robinson off of three screens in a row. But the Colonials switching forced her into an off-balanced contested three, sealing the win for the Colonials.</p>
<p>And scrap they did. Duquesne's hot shooting in the first half might be demoralizing to other teams. But Coach Tsipis knew the Colonials had a chance if they kept playing their game. "One of our goals was that if we kept the game close towards the end, we could have a little more depth," he said, making note of the fatigue that affected Duquesne after two exhausting wins.</p>
<p>With an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in their pockets, Tsipis knows his group doesn't need any motivation to stay competitive with one prize already won this year. "When you've won two regular season championships and two conference tournament championships, it's easy to get this group in that mindset."</p>
<p>With a healthy Jones back into the lineup just in time, the Colonials are setting high expectations for themselves in the rest of March.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/3/6/11169098/george-washington-atlantic-10-championsRic Lampkins2016-03-05T17:19:33-05:002016-03-05T17:19:33-05:00Duquesne Shuts Down Kemph to Reach A-10 Finals
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<figcaption>A-10 Co-Player of the Year April Robinson leads her team to victory against Saint Louis. | Atlantic-10 Conference and Mitchell Leff</figcaption>
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<p>Duquesne used a balanced offensive attack, getting double-digit scoring from three different starters, en route to a close win against a Saint Louis Billikens team that never seemed to find an offensive rhythm. Now the Dukes look forward to a chance to take down reigning Atlantic 10 Champion George Washington in tomorrow's finals matchup.</p>
<p>A back and forth contest between two of the three Atlantic 10 regular season co-champions came down to the final seconds. The matchup between Duquesne and Saint Louis pitted the two A-10 Co-Players of the Year against each other, in a battle between the conference's best two point guards.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, though, the Dukes' floor general reigned supreme, as April Robinson led her team to a chance to unseat the reigning champion George Washington Colonials in tomorrow's Championship game.</p>
<p>Saint Louis found themselves within striking range at the end of the fourth, despite a rare off night from top guard Jackie Kemph. Her 1-7 start was indicative of the Billikens early shooting struggles, with the Saint Louis starting off the game missing eight straight. Duquesne, however, needed no time to prepare, exploding out of the gate for a quick 9-0 lead.</p>
<p>Olivia Jakubicek scored the Billikens first points with a three that came five and a half minutes into the first, and helped spark the run that put her team back in the game, with Saint Louis only down by four heading into the second quarter.</p>
<p>Thankfully for the Billikens, Duquesne had their own troubles during the second period. A meager four points were all the Dukes managed to put up in ten minutes, giving Saint Louis a 12-4 run that spanned the entire quarter. Sadie Stipanovich and Jordyn Frantz rose to the occasion, giving life to a Saint Louis offense that seemed inanimate without the dynamic of their star point guard.</p>
<p>But whatever was afflicting the Dukes' game in the second quarter had quickly dissipated by the time third was underway. A seven-point quarter for Robinson combined with eight from Deva-Nyar Workman stabilized the sinking Duquesne offense and re-established their lead by the end of the period.</p>
<p>Kadri-Ann Lass, the team's leading scorer and rebounder with 15 and nine, gave Robinson and Workman an easy outlet for their passes, each contributing a few assists to Lass's point total.</p>
<p>Jackie Kemph finally re-discovered her groove in the fourth quarter, and her and-one play with five minutes put the Billikens ahead. However, after a media timeout with three minutes remaining, Kemph missed a layup on the following possession, gave up two free throw points to Emilie Gronas on a poor foul, then followed that up with another missed layup on the possession after that.</p>
<p>Workman's missed three on the other end ensured that Saint Louis would have a chance to lead, onlt down one with 60 seconds on the clock. But Jamesia Price's drive to the basket ended with a charge, and that turnover set up an April Robinson three, giving the Dukes a two-possession lead with only 22-second remaining.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/3/5/11166812/a-10-april-robinson-duquenseRic Lampkins2016-03-05T15:35:41-05:002016-03-05T15:35:41-05:00Jones & Colonials prove unstoppable
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<figcaption>Jonquel Jones surveys the floor during a 14 point win over the Rams. | Atlantic-10 Conference and Mitchell Leff</figcaption>
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<p>VCU had no answerfor Jonquel Jones, giving up offensive rebounds galore in their semifinal matchup with George Washington. Now the 2015 Atlantic 10 Champions have a chance to repeat after two impressive showings in the A-10 Tournament</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Richmond, VA -- </b>With Jonquel Jones anchoring the paint for the Colonials, easy baskets were hard to come by for VCU. Jones was an unstoppable force in the paint on both ends of the floor, blocking four shots and pulling down a game high 18 rebounds to lead George Washington to a 72-58 win over the Rams. The win catapulted them to the championship match-up with an opportunity to win it all for the second year in a row.</p>
<p>VCU played catch-up nearly all game long, as George Washington started the game off aggressive down low. Ciara Washington started the game off for the Colonials with two straight offensive rebounds, foreshadowing for what would become the theme of the game for the rest of the match-up. George Washington extended half of their first six possessions by crashing the offensive boards, getting easy put-back points.</p>
<p>On the other end, Jones’ active hands on defense made every single shot difficult for the Rams. It was hard enough for VCU to get clean looks at the basket, let alone make them. The Rams’ normally stifling defense was losing its edge; not only were the offensive rebounds from Washington and Jones keeping possessions alive, but the sheer amount of misses generated easy fast break opportunities for the Colonials, allowing them to stretch the lead.</p>
<p>The second quarter was more of the same, as Jones collected rebounds, blocks, and deflections, with the Rams struggling to find any offensive rhythm. The Colonials’ interior presence altered every field goal attempt VCU put up.</p>
<p>The Rams eventually responded with some physical play of their own, getting to the free throw line and making the easy points. Adaeze Alaeze energized VCU on the defensive end with two steals, and the easy baskets started coming as the Rams transition game picked up. It became apparent that VCU’s best shot at closing the gap was to get as many easy points as possible, whether on the break or from the charity stripe.</p>
<p>But with Jonquel Jones in the middle, there’s no such thing as an easy bucket.</p>
<p>Jones and the Colonial threw a block party in the third; the shots that didn’t get sent back were just as ineffective. VCU only found nylon three times in their 19 attempts during the third, including a five minute stretch where the Rams missed all of their 12 shots. Gang rebounding helped them snag a few offensive boards, but the lack of finishing didn’t help their cause.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, a 50% shooting performance from the Colonials helped them stretch the lead to double digits.</p>
<p>Down fifteen at the start of the fourth, VCU needed the momentum of the game to shift back to their side. And shift it did, when Jonquel Jones picked up two quick fouls bringing her total to four, and sending her quickly to the bench. The Rams didn’t wait to take advantage, switching to a full court press and going 3 for 3 on the ensuing possessions, cutting the lead from 16 down to 12.</p>
<p>Colonials head coach Jonathan Tsipis gambled on his star player, sending Jones back into the game one foul from disqualification, with three and a half minutes still to play. The gamble paid off; Jones sent back VCU shots on back to back possessions.</p>
<p>The Rams adjust, taking their chances outside of the paint, giving them more space to slash through the Colonials’ defense. And it worked. Jessica Ogunnorin’s layup with two and a half minutes on the clock cut the lead to six. But George Washington clamped down for the rest of the game, and that layup would the Rams’ last field goal for the rest of the contest.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/3/5/11166508/jonquel-jones-george-washington-vcu-atlantic-10-semisRic Lampkins2016-03-04T22:51:22-05:002016-03-04T22:51:22-05:00Duquesne Survives Scare in Quarterfinals
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<figcaption>Kadri-Ann Lass rises for a jumper against the Fordham Rams. | Atlantic-10 Conference and Mitchell Leff</figcaption>
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<p>The Dukes jumped out to an early lead, looking like the better team for much of the first half. But Fordham's three point shooting in the third quarter gave the team life in a likely blowout. Mistakes down the stretch cost the Rams the game, as Duquesne survived the upset scare to move into the next round of the A-10 Tournament.</p> <p><b>Richmond, VA -- </b>At halftime, Duquesne looked to be well on their way to a semifinal matchup with St. Louis with a nine-point lead that seemed insurmountable. Fordham and the Dukes were playing the same style of inside-out basketball, only Duquesne was doing it with much more effectiveness.</p>
<p>Kadri-Ann Lass was dominating the post, in a tough battle with Fordham's Samantha Clark. However, every time the Rams got a bucket, the Dukes came right down the floor and responded.</p>
<p>Eventually, the Dukes wore Fordham down, causing the Rams to go almost five minutes without registering a single basket, ending the last half of the quarter shooting two out of their last 10. Duquesne capitalized with a 9-0 run, and it seemed like the last game of the night would end in blowout fashion.</p>
<p>That is, until the third quarter.</p>
<p>Fordham unleashed a barrage of three-pointers, making five in the period to shave points off the deficit possession by possession. The Rams only missed on four of their 15 shots, converting on 73% of their attempts on the way to a 28 point quarter. The Dukes bid for a rout ended quickly, as Hannah Missry sent home three of Fordham's long distance shots, with the last one helping get the Rams within six.</p>
<p>Samantha Clark's layup at the end of the third brought Fordham within one, and Danielle Burns started off the final 10 minutes with a beautiful make from beyond the arc, giving the Rams their first lead of the entire game. Duquesne snapped back into their defensive mode, and the game went back and forth until Samantha Clark's and-one layup gave Fordham a two-point advantage with three minutes to go.</p>
<p>Post play from Lass and Deva'Nyar Workman helped the Dukes find themselves back on top with 14 seconds left, leaving Fordham with more than enough time to get a quality look at the basket. But the out-of-bounds play broke down early, and Lauren Holden threw the ball away in an attempt to prevent the five-second violation, effectively ending the game.</p>
<p>Workman and Lass were forces in the paint, achieving double-doubles of 20 and 17 and 14 and 10, respectively. Samantha Clark was the high scorer for the Rams, scoring 20 points and adding 12 rebounds.</p>
<p>Duquesne has extra motivation to play a tough 40 minutes after their scare against the Rams, and will look to prevent another third quarter defensive lapse against Saint Louis tomorrow afternoon.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/3/4/11164590/duquesne-fordham-atlantic-10-tournamentRic Lampkins2016-03-04T19:59:37-05:002016-03-04T19:59:37-05:00Herd of Rams run past Bonnies
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<img alt="Ashley Pegram goes up for a jumper against St. Bonaventure." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/N9nxTmG-MX35zcdNFeskxbGpsBM=/0x56:2005x1393/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49000535/Mitchell_Leff_VCUvSTB_0054.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ashley Pegram goes up for a jumper against St. Bonaventure. | Atlantic-10 Conference and Mitchell Leff</figcaption>
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<p>Although the shots were there, they were not falling in for St. Bonaventure. The VCU Rams were able to capitalize on the slow start for the Bonnies and pat their lead. Even though the Bonnies scored more efficiently in the third and forth quarters, it wouldn't be enough to dig them all the way out of their hole. Everyone chipped in for the Rams, but Ashley Pegram was solid off the bench. </p> <p></p>
<p><b>Richmond, VA --</b> Today's battle between the top two scoring defenses in the conference ended up being exactly the type of game you would expect: a low-scoring war of attrition, with both teams pounding the ball inside. Points were hard to come by, especially in a fourth quarter where both teams saw scoring droughts of four minutes.</p>
<p>St. Bonaventure found themselves down 10 points with two minutes left, and started fouling to stretch out the game. VCU almost gifted the Bonnies a chance at the game; the Rams lost focus in the final seconds, leaving seven free points on the table in their 14 trips to the line.</p>
<p>However, St. Bonaventure couldn't capitalize, and drew iron on open shot after open shot. The Bonnies wanted to cut the lead short the quick way, throwing up long distance shots with no conscience. But they could only connect on two of those nine attempts, and the Rams were never really in danger of losing their lead.</p>
<p>St. Bonaventure jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the first quarter, but Ashley Pegram scored on two possessions in a row after that, sparking an 11-0 run that gave VCU the momentum they wouldn't lose for the rest of the contest.</p>
<p>After holding the Bonnies to six points in the first period, the Rams remained relentless on the defensive end, smothering their opponent en route to a 25% shooting performance for the Bonnies in the second half. Spreading the ball around helped VCU get points from all but two players who played in the first half; Isis Thorpe led the way with eight, including a three-pointer that just beat the clock at the end of the half to take the lead to 14.</p>
<p>The Bonnies finally caught up with VCU's aggressiveness in the third, with their highest scoring quarter. Quick hands on defense helped them amass four steals. Ram Curteeona Brelove started the half off with three turnovers on the first four VCU possessions, allowing St. Bonaventure to sneak back into contention. But the Rams 50% shooting from the field ensured that they would stay ahead.</p>
<p>Ugly basketball awaited both teams in the fourth quarter, with missed free throws, continuous offensive rebounds, and multiple scraps on the floor for loose balls. However, VCU didn't seem to mind, grabbing every loose ball during the quarter. Free throws in the final minutes from Keira Robinson and Isis Thorpe sent the Bonnies back to a ten point deficit, where they would stay until a last-second layup from the Bonnies' Emily Michael.</p>
<p>But it was too little, too late for St. Bonaventure, as they lost their first and final game of the tournament.</p>
<p>VCU moves on to play top seed George Washington tomorrow, after the Colonials made quick work of the George Mason earlier in the day. That clash of styles will feature VCU's top defense against George Washington's second-ranked offense, featuring one of the conference's most prolific scorers in Jonquel Jones.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/ncaa/2016/3/4/11162638/vcu-st-bonaventure-atlantic-10-tournamentRic Lampkins2016-03-04T14:20:36-05:002016-03-04T14:20:36-05:00Colonials prevail over Patriots
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<figcaption>Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>After a big win yesterday, George Mason had their eyes set on top seeded George Washington. The Colonials were too much on the boards and dominated the Patriots. Caira Washington was the leader for George Washington with a double-double of 16 points, 11 rebounds. Jonquel Jones made her return to the court for the Colonials after not playing since January 22nd.</p> <p></p>
<p>Richmond, VA -- George Washington looked like the likely A-10 Champions all year long, especially when they ripped off a 14 game win streak during the middle of the season. But after a drop-off in intensity during the last few games of the season where they went 2-2, losing to VCU and St. Bonaventure, and barely eeking out a win against Richmond, some wondered which Colonials squad would show up for the tournament.</p>
<p>Well, the defending champs haven't left much up for debate during the first half of their quarterfinal matchup against George Mason, with the halftime score in the Colonials' favor, 25-40. The Patriots haven't led since eight minutes were left in the first quarter, and they will need a much better performance from the field to close the gap.</p>
<p>After shooting 37% from three against Dayton in yesterday's game, the Patriots can't find the bottom of the net from distance, making only one of their 11 shots. For the first few minutes of the second quarter, Mason tried to counter their poor shooting by picking up the pace; unfortunately, they played right into the Colonials' hands, as George Washington ran them for nine straight fast break points.</p>
<p>After yesterday's 25 point performance, Taylor Brown has only made one of her nine shots, leaving Kara Wright to pick up the slack for the Patriots; she leads the team with 12. Meanwhile, Caira Washington leads for George Washington, also with 12 points.</p>
<p>Last year's A-10 Player and Defensive Player of the year Jonquel Jones registered limited minutes during the second half, still on a restriction from her mid-January injury. Jones might not be leading the Colonial's in points, but her seven rebounds are indicative of the urgency she plays with on the court.</p>
<p>Mason has dispatched forward Tayler Dodson and her physical brand of defense to help neutralize Jones's impact; the second half will tell if those adjustments pay off.</p>
<p>It was a going to take a monumental effort for George Mason to knock off the defending A-10 champs after the Colonials ran them to a 25 point lead. And though the effort might have been there, the results were not; George Washington ended the Patriots' season with a 78-48 win, moving on to the conference semifinals.</p>
<p>Mason came out of the halftime break swinging, shooting much better from the floor. Taylor Brown sunk her only three-pointer of the game with five minutes left in the quarter, bringing Mason within 10 for the first time since the opening minutes of the second quarter.</p>
<p>However, coming out of the ensuing timeout, George Washington decided enough was enough. They scored the game's next 12 points, capitalized by two straight three-point plays from Jonquel Jones to stretch the lead back to double digits for good.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/3/4/11161842/george-washington-atlantic-10-jonquel-jonesRic Lampkins2016-03-03T22:29:11-05:002016-03-03T22:29:11-05:00Rams rise to the moment
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<figcaption>Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In second round competition, Fordham and Massachusetts played similar. They started the game strong, yet both teams faced second quarter lulls. While the third and forth quarters did improve, neither team could pull away forcing five extra minutes of play. No longer would the teams stay close as Danielle Burns continued to score at will for the Rams, who ran away from the Minutewomen to advance to tomorrow's game. </p> <p></p>
<p><b>Richmond, VA --</b> A blistering hot first quarter where Fordham shot 44% from three and Massachusetts shot 50% from the field was followed up by an ice cold second quarter, with teams scoring seven and eight points, respectively. The even match-up resulted in the first half's 25-25 tie.</p>
<p>After hitting four threes in the first quarter, the Rams missed all but one of their attempts in the second. Thankfully for them, UMass couldn't capitalize on their poor shooting; the Minutewomen shot 4-14 themselves.</p>
<p>Neither team has done much on the inside. The Ram's only have two points in the paint, and all 10 of UMass's paint points have come on the break. With baskets being that hard to come by in the second quarter, they might want to continue running up and down the floor.</p>
<p>The Rams were led in scoring by Danielle Burns, who shot 50% from both the floor and downtown, while the Minutewomen have leaned heavily on Cierra Dillard, with eight points of her own.</p>
<p>Both teams are hoping for a second half much more like the first quarter, as they try to separate themselves on the scoreboard.</p>
<p>The last game of the night might have started with a lot of missed shots, but it more than made up for it in a thrilling overtime finish. Fordham scored 21 points in the five-minute extra period, sealing a 73-62 win against a UMass team whose inconsistent performance from the field prevented a win for the Minutewomen.</p>
<p>Poor shooting continued into the third quarter for UMass, with the Minutewomen going 3-13. Fordham only shot marginally better at 31%, but it was enough to take a four-point lead into the fourth.</p>
<p>Massachusetts finally got the lid off the basket in the last period of regulation, making four of their first five shots. Though they never led in the quarter, UMass stayed within striking distance the whole 10 minutes, with Dillard and Bria Stallworth combining for 13 of the team's 19 fourth quarter points.</p>
<p>Fordham responded with their own firepower, however; leading scorer Burns contributed 10 points of her own in the fourth, and helped the Rams bring the win home with six more points in the extra time. Burns ended with 28 points, playing a game-high 45 minutes.</p>
<p>Fordham found themselves up one when UMass's Rashida Timbillia fouled Samantha Clark on her layup attempt. Two made free throws would have all but ended the game; UMass hadn't hit a three all night.</p>
<p>However, Clark's first try from the stripe knocked off the front iron, leaving the door open for a UMass tie after she hit the second. Dillard found herself with the ball, and sunk a fall-away mid-range jumper with 12 seconds left to tie it. The Rams couldn't set anything up in the resulting time, sending the game into overtime.</p>
<p>Once the extra period started, UMass reverted back to their mid-quarter selves, going 2-11 and eventually being forced to play the foul game. Fordham seemed to have no problem with that, going 15-16 from the field, cementing the victory and paving the way for a match-up with third-seeded Duquesne tomorrow.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/3/3/11158482/fordham-umass-overtime-atlantic-tenRic Lampkins2016-03-03T20:36:16-05:002016-03-03T20:36:16-05:00Middle quarters get it done for Rhode Island
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<figcaption>Atlantic-10 and Mitchell Leff</figcaption>
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<p>With four players scoring in double figures, the Rhode Island Rams held of the late push from Saint Joseph's. The Hawks were able to get themselves back in the game when Charise Wilson left the court, however when the leading scorer of the game returned, she brought her team momentum which pushed them to the win. </p> <p></p>
<p><b>Richmond, VA -- </b>St. Joseph's jumped out of the gate with a quick 9-0 start, and for a few minutes, it looked like the Rhode Island Rams were outmatched. But a 25-point second quarter from the Rams helped them overcome a 3-point margin at the end of the first, as they enter halftime four points ahead of the Hawks.</p>
<p>Rhode Island point guard Charise Wilson came out firing, trying to dig her team out of the whole. The Hawks were content to let her try and take over; she started the game only 2 for 7 from the field. However, after her three-pointer with 2 minutes left in the first, she found her stroke.</p>
<p>In fact, the entire Rhode Island team found their stroke during the second quarter. Focusing more on getting the ball inside, the Rams tied the game up in the second period. After St. Joseph's adjusted, collapsing their defense, the Rams switched their strategy accordingly, letting the three-pointers fly; Rhode Island went 4-6 from beyond the arc, shooting 53% from the field in the second.</p>
<p>Despite the impressive shooting performance from the Rams, the Hawks stayed close with their ability to capitalize on offensive rebounds and a balanced offensive attack. The offensive duel between the Hawks' Ciara Andrews and Charise Wilson will continue into the second half, as the respective teams' leading scorers try to lead their team to a win.</p>
<p>Rhode Island opened up the scoring in the third period, leading by as many as 14 before taking a 13 point lead into the fourth quarter. After Charise Wilson went down with what looked like a serious knee injury, the Rams lost some of their fire, allowing the Hawks to close the gap and tie the game.</p>
<p>But eventually Wilson returned, and so did Rhode Island's fire, as they dashed St. Joseph's comeback hopes and sealed the 81-76 win, moving into the quarterfinals.</p>
<p>The Rams' Tayra Melendez, who had been active on defense during the first half with her length, came alive offensively, hitting two threes in a row. Wilson started off only 1-4, but made up for her poor shooting with her distribution efforts, racking up five assists in the third quarter.</p>
<p>Sarah Fairbanks and Chelsea Woods of the Hawks both ended the game with double-doubles, and their interior play in the fourth quarter, combined with guard Andrews' efficiency, helped St. Joe's narrow the lead to 2 points with 22 seconds left.</p>
<p>After Wilson missed one of her free throws, the Hawks had the ball in a one-possession game with 18 seconds left. However, Sarah Veilleux's three-point attempt with 12 seconds left came up short, and the game would get no closer.</p>
<p>The win marks the second upset of the day, and sets up the Rams for a date with the second seed St. Louis Billikens tomorrow.</p>
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https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/3/3/11158366/rhode-island-saint-josephs-atlantic-ten-charise-wilsonRic Lampkins