Women’s basketball: Dayton returns to first place in A-10 with victory at Rhode Island

With three games remaining in the regular season, Dayton (20-4, 11-1) has a half-game lead over Rhode Island (20-4, 10-1). The teams meet again at 2 p.m. Feb. 26 at UD Arena.

Dayton plays at Fordham (16-6, 7-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday and at Saint Joseph’s (9-15, 5-7) next Wednesday in its other remaining games.

Rhode Island plays at Richmond (14-12, 5-8) on Saturday and then plays St. Bonaventure (12-12, 4-9) next Wednesday. It has played one fewer game because of a postponed game against Virginia Commonwealth (13-8, 8-3) that has not been made up.

Araion Bradshaw and Jenna Giacone each scored 10 points against Rhode Island. Kyla Whitehead had nine points and eight rebounds.

The Flyers took control with a 7-0 run in the last 4:04 of the first quarter and began the second quarter with an 11-3 run. Rhode Island cut a 15-point third-quarter deficit to 34-30, but Bradshaw made a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the quarter. Rhode Island got no closer than five points in the fourth quarter.

Rhode Island shot a season-worst 26.5% from the field. Dayton shot 32.1%, its third-worst performance.