BRYANT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

December 17, 2006

Women's Basketball Defeats Bridgeport 78-57

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University Women's Basketball team snapped its three-game losing streak behind an excellent effort from its bench in a 78-57 win over Bridgeport at the Chace Center in Smithfield, R.I.

Cara Johnson (Endicott, N.Y.) posted career highs in points (13), rebounds (eight) and assists (four) in 21 minutes off the bench.

Senior co-captain Erin Murphy (Albany, N.Y.) anchored the offense for the Bulldogs. She tallied 18 points, falling two short of her career high and pulled down nine boards in 30 minutes. Murphy drained two shots from behind the arc in three attempts, while backstopping her squad's box-and-one defense.

Bryant led only by eight at the half, 39-31, but pulled away midway through the second half. Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass.) converted a three-on-one fast break with an easy lay-up off a great pass from Johnson. Then the next time down the court, Johnson drained a three to give the Bulldogs the 71-49 lead, forcing the Purple Knights to call for time.

Kokoski had 12 points on four-of-six shooting in 26 minutes off the bench.

Bryant received great post play from Jamie Campbell (Springfield, Mass.) (four points, four rebounds) and Adrianne Mayshar (West Boylston, Mass.) (five points, three boards).

Forty-four of Bryant's 78 points came from its bench.

With the victory, the Bulldogs snap their three-game losing streak and improve to 6-4 (3-4 Northeast-10. They are 5-1 at the Chace Center.

Bryant is now idle through the Christmas holiday and will return to action December 29-30, when they take part in the Barry Holiday Tournament in sunny Miami Shores, Florida. The Bulldogs will face Barry on the 29^th at 6 p.m. and Nova Southeastern on the 30^th at 4 p.m.