DANBURY, Conn. - Despite a game-high 18 points from rookie forward Nia Rencher (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.), the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team fell to visiting Little East Conference foe Rhode Island College, 79-38, on Wednesday evening at Feldman Arena. 

Junior guard Malaysia Dingle (Brockton, Mass.) chipped in with a game-high four steals for the Wolves. The Anchorwomen had three players net double figures as Meagan Schuermann led the way with 17. Angelina Nardolillo and Madison Medbury contributed 16 and 14, respectively.

The visitors coughed the ball up just 15 times while forcing 25 turnovers. They also notched the edge in the rebounding column, 48-38, while holding the Wolves without a three-point field goal. 

WestConn kept it close in the first quarter when rookie guard Deona Garcia (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) scurried in for a layup off a pass from Dingle to cut the RIC lead to 12-10. However, the Anchorwomen countered when Schuermann sank a jumper, giving the visitors a 17-10 lead heading into the second. 

RIC built it up to a 34-18 halftime advantage and would cruise the rest of the way. With the loss, the Wolves dropped to 5-18 overall and 3-11 in league play, while the Anchorwomen improved to 17-6 and 12-2. WestConn wraps up the home slate when they host Keene State on Saturday before rounding out the regular season at UMass Dartmouth on February 22nd.