URI women’s basketball headed to NCAA Tournament for first time in 30 years

KINGSTON, R.I. — The Rhode Island Rams women’s basketball are headed to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in three decades after winning the conference championship Sunday.

URI defeated the defending champions, the George Mason Patriots women’s basketball, 53-51 to capture the program’s first conference tournament title.

Rams rally after slow start

After falling behind early in the game, Rhode Island turned the momentum in the second half.

The Rams took the lead during the third quarter and maintained control through the final minutes to secure the two point victory.

Senior guard Brooklyn Gray led the team with 16 points, helping power the offense during the comeback effort.

Historic milestone for URI program

The win marks a major moment for the program, sending the Rams to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 30 years and securing the team’s first conference championship.

The program’s first trip to the tournament was in 1996 where they lost to Oklahoma in the first round.

Rams await Selection Sunday

The tournament bracket will be announced during the Selection Sunday broadcast next weekend, when teams across the country learn their seeding and first round matchups.

Rhode Island will discover where it will play and who it will face when the bracket is revealed Sunday at 8 p.m.