Providence, R.I.--The Rhode Island College women's basketball squad dropped a hard-fought, 49-48, decision against intra-state rival Johnson & Wales in a non-conference contest played at The Wildcat Center on Thursday evening.

Rhode Island College (3-4) senior Alex Moore (West Newbury, MA) scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out five assists in the setback. Moore now needs just 59 more points to become the 14^th player in school history to reach the 1,000-point plateau. Freshman forward Victoria Demers (Sutton, MA) contributed 11 points and five boards for the Anchorwomen.

Sophomore forward Ally Mishol (Longmeadow, MA) paced Johnson & Wales (4-2) with a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while junior center Ashley Thompson (Bellingham, MA) added 14 points and eight boards.

Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter with neither team taking more than a one point lead and RIC holding an 8-7 lead after the first 10 minutes of action. The score was tied 13-13 midway through the second quarter before the Anchorwomen grabbed control, closing out the frame on a 9-2 run to take a 24-15 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

JWU responded in the third quarter and used a 12-3 run if its own to knot the score, 27-27, with 2:56 left in the stanza. RIC then closed out the quarter on a 6-3 run and used a free throw by freshman guard Jordyn Gauvin (Fall River, MA) to take a 33-30 advantage after three quarters of play.

A 12-2 run for the Wildcats, capped by a jumper by Mishol with 5:22 left in the contest, gave JWU its largest lead of the game, 42-35. The Anchorwomen responded and Moore put RIC up by two, 48-46, with 12 seconds on the clock. JWU cut the lead to to one, 48-47, on a free throw by junior guard Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, RI) and the Wildcats claimed the thrilling, 49-48, win as Thompson hit a jumper with time running out to seal the victory.

RIC shot 37.5 percent (18-for-48) from the field, 23.5 percent (4-for-17) from three-point range and 50.0 percent (8-for-16) from the free throw line. Johnson & Wales shot 32.7 percent (18-for-55) from the field, 31.6 percent (6-for-19) from the three-point line and 77.8 percent (7-for-9) from the free throw line. RIC forced 21 JWU turnovers and the Anchorwomen bench outscored the Wildcats bench by a 12-2 margin.  

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will open Little East Conference play at home against Plymouth State on Saturday, Dec. 3 (1 p.m.).