HENRICO, Va. - Rhode Island advanced to the final of the Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Championship for the second time in three years. Albina Syla, a 6-foot-5 sophomore center from Finland, is a big reason, literally and figuratively.
"We rode on her shoulders today. We got the ball where we wanted it, and she made every big shot," said Rams coach Tammi Reiss. "It was Bina's night."
The Rams, who have won 21 or more games in four of the past five seasons, set a program record with their 27 win, against just four losses.
In Sunday's final, the Rams will face No.2 George Mason (defending champs) or No. 3 Richmond (who won it in 2024). URI downed the Patriots in their only regular-season matchup, and split with the Spiders, with each winning at home.
Syla finished with 22 points (11-of-14 shooting) and 14 rebounds, one short of her career high in points but besting her previous career-high in rebounds by three. Her 11 made field goals also were a career-high, as were her four blocks. Ten of her points, six of her rebounds and half her blocks came after she picked up her third foul with 3:14 left in the third quarter.
"When I got that third one, I was like, 'I'm going to make sure that the fourth one is not coming. I know where I mess up and where I usually get the fouls," Syla said. "That fueled me even more and gave me that edge."
Reiss never considered taking her out, either.
"No, she was the only one that was offensive rebounding. She was the only one that's scoring," Reiss said. "And she was just so dominant. Sometimes you got to ride that hot player. We can overcoach sometimes. I wasn't going to overcoach. I was keeping Bina in, and I trusted her."
Syla, who averaged 8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in the regular season but didn't make any of the three all-conference teams, never came out the rest of the game. And never picked up another foul.
Sophia Vital, one of only two players from the 2024 team that l0st to Richmond in the A10 title game, had 10 points, including five after Davidson got within 44-40 with about 8:49. She also had clutch shots in Friday's quarterfinal 71-64 victory over No.8 Loyola of Chicago.
"I like making big shots for my team," said Vital, a second-team all-Atlantic 10 selection at guard. "I like doing whatever my team needs me to do. So, just being in those clutch moments is my favorite thing ever."
Fourth-seeded Davidson (21-12) was in the A10 semifinals for second consecutive year, losing to George Mason a year ago, and looking for its first title game appearance. Charlise Dun (first-team all-conference) led the Wildcats with 15 points and five rebounds. However, nine of those points came in the first quarter. Their other all-conference player, Katie Donovan (second team), scored just six points, but none until midway through the third quarter.
The Wildcats led 29-25 at the half and were winning the board battle, 18-13. Reiss wasn't happy and let her players know it in the locker room.
"We knew we had to be the more physical team. That's what coach was screaming at us at halftime about," Vital said.
They got the message as the second half belonged to the Rams, thanks to Syla and Vital. They outscored the Wildcats 30-17 and outrebounded them 22-9 after the break. And in the final quarter held the Wildcats scoreless for almost seven minutes.
"The second half got away from us," said Davidson coach Gayle Fulks, who with a win would have moved into a tie with Annette Watts for the most victories in program history with 144.
Syla scored six quick points in the third quarter before picking up her third foul. She stayed in the game, adding six more points, four in the final minute on a putback with 48 seconds left and a strong post move with 1 second left. She outscored the Wildcats 12-9 in the quarter and the Rams led 41-38 with 10 minutes left.
That's when Vital took over. After a driving layup stretched the lead to 46-40 with 7:49 left, she added a 3-pointer at 4:09 for a 51-40, all but icing the game.
In their only regular-season matchup, they beat Davidson 60-53 at home on Jan. 21.