Box Score Box Score

DURHAM, NH (Sept. 18, 2021)-Morgan State closed out the UNH/Merrimack Tournament with a tough 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 28-26) loss to Rhode Island on Saturday at Lundholm Gymnasium on the campus of the University of New Hampshire.
 
Morgan State, which closed out the non-conference portion of its schedule, went 1-2 for the weekend and fell to 2-12 on the season. Rhode Island, winners of two straight and five of its last six contests, improved to 7-7 on the campaign.
 
Madison Grace totaled a match-high 12 kills, while Jasmin Perry, who hit for a match-best .467 and Gabriela Hiciano, each added eight for the Lady Bears. Mackenzie Jefferson had a match-high 32 assists and Jadore Hayes collected a match-best 20 digs. Hiciano added 11 digs and Tyasia McDuffie had 10.
 
Brynne Wright led Rhode Island with 10 kills and Ella Ratzloff finished with 18 digs to become the Rams' all-time leader in digs. Grace Hammond recorded 15 assists and added seven kills and hit for a team-high .313.
 
Trailing 2-0 heading into the start of the third set, Morgan State scored four consecutive points to take a 10-7 lead, following a service ace by Hayes. Rhode Island used a 7-4 spurt to even the score at 14-14, but the Lady Bears countered with four straight to increase their lead to 18-14.
 
The Lady Bears appeared to be in control of Set 3 when they took a 23-19 lead on a Rhode Island attack error. However, the Rams recorded four straight kills to even the score at 23 all. Three times Morgan State would go up by a point, the last coming at 26-25 on a kill by Hiciano, but each time Rhode Island would fight off defeat.  
 
Rhode Island would score the next three points for the win, capped off by an assisted block by Gabrielle Shilling and Jamie Smith for the 28-26 victory.
 
Morgan State will now direct its attention to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play for the remainder of the season, starting with its MEAC opener on Friday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. in Durham, N.C. at North Carolina Central. The Lady Bears will wrap-up their conference opening weekend with a trip to Orangeburg, S.C. to face South Carolina State on Sunday, Sept. 26 at noon.