SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — Albina Syla scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds Sunday to lead Rhode Island to a 70-50 women’s basketball victory over Duquesne at Ryan Center. The Rams, now 16-2 overall and leading the Atlantic 10, pulled away after halftime. They outscored the Dukes 44-27 in the second half, including a 25-point fourth quarter. Syla, a 6-foot-5 junior from Finland, added three blocks in 32 minutes for her standout performance. Duquesne (7-11) was led by Mackenzie Blackford’s 11 points. The Dukes struggled offensively after the first quarter, scoring only eight points in the second period. A crowd of 1,118 watched as Rhode Island maintained control throughout to secure the conference win.

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — Albina Syla scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Rhode Island to a methodical 70-50 victory over Duquesne in an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball game Sunday at the Ryan Center. The Rams, improving to 16-2 overall, used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the Dukes, who fell to 7-11. A crowd of 1,118 watched Rhode Island win its fourth consecutive conference game. The contest was closely contested for the first 20 minutes. Duquesne, led by early baskets from Reina Green and Mackenzie Blackford, held a 15-13 lead after a choppy first quarter. The Rams struggled to find offensive rhythm, but Syla, a 6-foot-5 junior from Vantaa, Finland, kept them afloat with six first-quarter points. The second quarter followed a similar pattern of defensive stops and missed opportunities. Rhode Island managed only 13 points again but limited Duquesne to just eight, taking a 26-23 lead into halftime. The Dukes’ offensive struggles were emblematic of their recent form, having failed to reach 55 points in three of their last four games. The most important part of the game unfolded decisively after the break. Rhode Island emerged from the locker room with heightened intensity, particularly on the defensive end. The Rams opened the third quarter on a 13-2 run, fueled by Syla’s interior presence and a three-pointer from Palmire Mbu of Lille, France. During this stretch, Rhode Island’s defense forced several Duquesne turnovers and contested shots, effectively breaking the game open. Syla was instrumental in the surge, scoring eight points in the quarter. Her ability to finish at the rim and control the glass overwhelmed a Duquesne frontcourt that had held its own in the first half. Rhode Island outscored Duquesne 19-10 in the third period to take a commanding 45-33 lead. Any hope of a Duquesne comeback was extinguished in the fourth quarter as the Rams’ offense found another gear. Rhode Island poured in 25 points, its highest-scoring quarter of the game, with Ines Debroise of Paris contributing seven of her 13 points during the final frame. The Rams’ ball movement improved markedly, leading to open looks as they shot over 50% from the field in the second half. Syla’s double-double, which included three blocked shots in 32 minutes, anchored the victory. It was a standout performance following more modest outings in her previous two games. She received ample support from Debroise and Sophia Vital of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who directed the offense with six assists. For Duquesne, Blackford, a guard from Solon, Ohio, led the way with 11 points. Fatou Sane of Guediawaye, Senegal, added nine points and six rebounds, while Green finished with seven points and six boards. The Dukes, however, could not sustain their early effort against a Rhode Island team that entered the game with a 93.8% probability to win according to National Statistical’s ELO system. Rhode Island’s defense was a constant, holding Duquesne to 50 points, well below the Rams’ season average for points allowed. The victory keeps Rhode Island near the top of the Atlantic 10 standings as it prepares to host Davidson on Wednesday. Duquesne, mired in a slump that has seen them lose five of their last six, will look to regroup when they host Dayton on Wednesday.

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (Interstat) — A surging Rhode Island squad will look to extend its dominance when it hosts a struggling Duquesne team in an Atlantic 10 women’s basketball matchup Sunday at the Ryan Center. The Rams (15-2, 5-0 A-10) enter on a nine-game winning streak and sit atop the conference standings. Their most recent victory was a defensive grind, a 46-41 win at VCU on Wednesday. Rhode Island has relied on a balanced attack and stout defense, allowing an average of just 54.2 points during its current run. Sophia Vital, the engine for the Rams, averages 12.4 points and 4.6 assists. The guard is coming off a 10-point, six-assist performance against VCU and has been a model of consistency, scoring in double figures in four of her last five games. They face a Duquesne team (7-10, 0-5) mired in a six-game losing streak. The Dukes are coming off a 59-45 home loss to George Washington on Wednesday, where they shot just 30.4% from the field. Their conference struggles have been marked by offensive droughts, failing to reach 65 points in any A-10 contest. The Dukes’ primary hope rests with guard Alexis Bordas, one of the conference’s most prolific scorers. Bordas is averaging 20.5 points per game and is coming off a 20-point effort against GW. She exploded for 38 points, five rebounds and five assists in a non-conference win over Pittsburgh on Dec. 21, showcasing her high-ceiling capability. Containing her will be a key focus for the Rams’ defense. Historically, Rhode Island has controlled this series, winning the last five meetings. The Rams won both games last season by an average of 22.5 points. For Duquesne, the game represents a formidable opportunity to reverse its fortunes against the league’s best. For Rhode Island, it is a chance to protect its home court and maintain its perfect conference record. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. EST on Sunday, Jan. 18. Following this game, Rhode Island will host Davidson on Wednesday, while Duquesne returns home to face Dayton on Jan. 21.