SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — The Rhode Island women’s basketball team unleashed a dominant fourth-quarter surge to overcome a stubborn Richmond squad, securing a 73-61 victory in an Atlantic 10 Conference matchup Tuesday night at the Ryan Center.

In a game defined by momentum swings, the Rams outscored the Spiders 27-17 in the final period, turning a narrow three-point lead into a decisive double-digit win in front of 1,146 fans. The victory improved Rhode Island to 11-2 overall, while Richmond fell to 11-4.

The most important part of the game was Rhode Island’s decisive and overwhelming fourth-quarter performance, which completely reversed the game’s trajectory. After being held to just 10 points in the third quarter and seeing their once-comfortable lead dwindle, the Rams exploded offensively in the final frame. They shot efficiently from the field and capitalized mercilessly on Richmond’s mistakes, scoring 25 points off turnovers for the game. A key sequence early in the quarter saw Palmire Mbu and Brooklyn Gray hit consecutive three-pointers, stretching a slim 46-43 lead to 54-45 and forcing Richmond into a defensive scramble from which they never recovered. This burst ignited the Ryan Center crowd and established a rhythm that Richmond, despite the efforts of Maggie Doogan, could not disrupt.

Richmond, which entered the game with a 73.4% win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, struggled to maintain its offensive flow against Rhode Island’s persistent defense. The Spiders were led by Maggie Doogan, a 6-foot-2 sophomore from Broomall, Pennsylvania, who scored a game-high 26 points in 36 minutes. Alicia Newell added 8 points, and Tierra Simon contributed 6 points and 3 assists.

Rhode Island’s attack was more balanced and opportunistic. Palmire Mbu, a 6-1 junior from Lille, France, paced the Rams with 19 points, including three 3-pointers, and added a block. Guards Sophia Vital of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Brooklyn Gray of Rockford, Illinois, each scored 14 points, with Vital dishing out 5 assists. Vanessa Harris provided a crucial spark off the bench with 12 points, and Ines Debroise of Paris chipped in 8 points and 3 assists. The Rams’ interior defense was anchored by 6-5 freshman Albina Syla of Vantaa, Finland, who recorded 2 blocks.

The game began at a frenetic pace, with Rhode Island jumping to an early lead behind Mbu’s hot shooting. The Rams led 18-13 after the first quarter and extended their advantage to 36-29 by halftime, thanks to consistent scoring and capitalizing on Richmond turnovers. The third quarter belonged to the Spiders, however, as they clamped down defensively, holding Rhode Island to 10 points while chipping away at the deficit. Doogan’s scoring and a more disciplined approach saw Richmond close the gap to 46-43 heading into the final period, setting the stage for the Rams’ explosive finish.

Rhode Island’s victory marked a significant conference win as both teams look ahead to the bulk of their A-10 schedules. Richmond will aim to rebound on the road at Saint Bonaventure on Saturday. Rhode Island travels to face Loyola Chicago, also on Saturday.