URI women’s basketball coach Tammi Reiss speaks after Rams win Wednesday
With the win, Rhode Island improves to 10-5 in Atlantic 10 play (15-13 overall) with 3 games left in the season.
The University of Rhode Island women are taking a page from the 2022-23 season playbook.
The Rams shared an Atlantic 10 regular season title with Massachusetts and reached the last 16 in the WNIT that year. It could prove worthwhile if this latest class of transfers from league rivals is able to deliver.
Valentina Ojeda, Brooklyn Gray and Ta’Viyanna Habib all announced commitments to URI on social media last week. The Rams confirmed their signings in a Friday release, three additions to offset what could be four departures in the portal.
Bryant also added a commitment from an America East foe, with Abbey Lindsey coming in from UMass Lowell. She represents some scoring punch in a backcourt to replace one of the Bulldogs’ own departures. Bryant is looking to take another step after falling in the conference tournament semifinals in March.
Here’s a look at the women’s activity in the last week and what could unfold after Wednesday’s portal closure.
Here’s who URI will add to women’s team
Ojeda, Gray and Habib come to URI from VCU, Saint Louis and George Mason, respectively. It mirrors what the Rams did when they added Emma Squires (Richmond), Madison Hattix-Covington (VCU) and Tenin Magassa (Dayton) prior to a 26-7 campaign, a season that stands among the best in program history.
“I have seen all of them up close and personal for years now and have been thoroughly impressed by what each of them bring to their respective teams, their skill sets, their experience in our league and how they performed against our team,” URI coach Tammi Reiss said in a statement. “They understand our conference and have proven they can compete and get it done in the A-10.”
Ojeda is a Chile native who played her way into the starting lineup by the close of last season. She averaged 7.9 points and shot 36.6% from 3-point range. Ojeda prepped at Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy before a stint in junior college.
Gray was part of a WNIT champion with the Billikens in 2023-24 and continued as a reliable scorer last season. She averaged 12.2 points in 34 games and hit double figures 21 times, including 25 against Missouri State and 30 against the Minutewomen. Gray is a penetrator who took a combined 291 free throws in two seasons with Saint Louis and collected at least 40 steals twice.
Habib was part of a conference tournament champion and March Madness qualifier with the Patriots in 2024-25. She averaged 6.5 points and shot 37.1% from 3-point range in 33 games. Habib spent multiple seasons in junior college before joining George Mason and will add some perimeter experience.
Bryant fills backcourt need
Bryant found an immediate answer for the loss of Breezie Williams in its backcourt.
Lindsey averaged 11 points while starting 12 of 25 games for the River Hawks as a sophomore. She did the majority of her damage inside the 3-point arc, connecting all but six of her 106 field goals from 2-point range. Lindsey added 2.8 rebounds and 24 steals.
The Bulldogs saw Williams return to her Ohio home after a lone season in Smithfield. She signed with Wright State last week, her third stop after two years at New Hampshire and one with Bryant. Gabrielle Sweeney, Silvia Gonzalez and Jada Leonard all remain available in the portal after On3 reported their respective entries prior to the Wednesday deadline.
On X: @BillKoch25
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
