Rhode Island Women’s Basketball at March Madness: vs Alabama Preview

The Rhode Island Rams arrived at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, preparing to face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Rams, champions of both the Atlantic 10 regular season and tournament, are making their first appearance in March Madness since 1996.

Alabama, seeded sixth in Regional 3 – Fort Worth, enters the tournament with a 28-4 overall record. This marks the Crimson Tide’s fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Kristy Curry. The matchup pits the No. 6 seed Alabama against the No. 11 seed Rhode Island.

Rhode Island’s success this season is guided by head coach Tammi Reiss, who is in her seventh year leading the Rams program. Under Reiss, Rhode Island has accumulated a 138-72 overall record. The Rams’ 2025-26 roster boasts a record of 28-4, with a 16-2 mark in Atlantic 10 play. Key victories during the season included wins against NC State, Richmond, and George Mason.

Statistically, Rhode Island distinguishes itself with a strong defensive presence, allowing just 53.8 points per game, ranking sixth nationally in that category. They average 67.7 points per game on offense. The Rams also average 38.5 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 6.8 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game. Their field goal percentage is 58.

The game is scheduled to be played on Saturday afternoon, with both teams entering the tournament following successful regular seasons. The winner will advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.