Providence, R.I.--Rhode Island College sophomore guard Jessa Rubera (Newton, MA) scored 14 points on 4-for-4 shooting from three-point range as the women's basketball team fell to intra-city rival Johnson & Wales, 62-58, in non-conference action played at The Murray Center on Thursday night.

The teams traded baskets in the early going, with the Anchorwomen (2-4) taking an 8-3 lead following a layup by senior forward Devin Hill (Danielson, CT) with 5:05 left in the first quarter. The Wildcats (4-0) battled back, going on an 8-0 run, capped by a trey by junior guard Bobbie Whitehead (Brooklyn, NY) with 1:56 left in the first. The Anchorwomen knotted the game at 11-11 before JWU finished the quarter with back-to-back baskets to take a 15-11 lead into the second frame.

JWU opened the second quarter on fire, opening its lead to eight points, 23-15, following a three by senior guard Savannah Kresge (Ellington, CT) with 7:15 left in the quarter. RIC responded however, cutting the deficit down to three, 27-24, entering halftime on a made jump shot by freshman forward Amy Assad (Millis, MA) with 48 seconds left in the second.

RIC shot 29.6 percent (8-for-27) from the field in the half. JWU shot 30.3 percent (10-for-33) from the field as a team.

The third quarter saw a back and forth battle, with a jumper by Assad with 3:37 left in the stanza putting the Anchorwomen up by one, 34-33. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with a layup by Hill with 12 seconds remaining in the stanza knotted the game at 38 heading into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter saw the Anchorwomen open a six point lead following a pair of made free throws by Rubera with 5:02 left in the contest.  The Wildcats narrowed the deficit by throwing the ball down low, finally tying the game at 52-52 on a made jumper by sophomore center Ashley Thompson (Bellingham, MA) with 3:22 left in the quarter. RIC increased its lead to as large as many as three, but the Wildcats rode the hot hand of Thompson in the low post to hold RIC for the win.

RIC shot 32.8 percent (20-for-61) from the field and 29.2 percent (7-for-24) from downtown as a team. JWU shot 36.4 percent (24-for-66) from the floor, while being held to just 25.0 percent (6-for-24) from three-point range.

Hill led the way for the Anchorwomen with 18 points and seven rebounds. Rubera scored her 14 points on near perfect shooting, going 4-for-5 from the field, 4-for-4 from downtown and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.

Thompson led the way for JWU, scoring a game-high 27 points and recording 13 rebounds, which was also a game-high. Whitehead scored nine points and added five rebounds in the victory.  

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will open Little East Conference play at Plymouth State on Saturday, Dec. 5 (1 p.m.).