BRYANT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

December 29, 2006

Women's Basketball Loses to Barry 65-50 at Barry Holiday Classic

MIAMI SHORES, FLA. - The Bryant University Women's Basketball team struggled offensively en route to a 65-50 defeat by Barry University Friday night at the Barry Holiday Classic.

Senior co-captain Erin Murphy (Albany, N.Y.) led the Bulldogs, scoring 11 points while pulling down eight rebounds in 34 minutes.

The Bulldogs struggled early scoring only six points in the game's first eight minutes and trailing by as much as ten. They went on an 8-0 run with time winding down in the first half to cut Barry's lead to 22-20 but trailed 27-23 at the half.

Bryant shot poorly in the first frame, shooting only 32% from the field, making just seven first-half shots. They finished the game without making a three-point basket (0 of 9).

Barry came out in the second half on an 11-0 run to pull ahead 38-23, led by two three-pointers by Christina Thompson.

The Bulldogs clawed their way back into it, cutting the lead to 50-44 with 4:22 to play as Murphy blew past her defender for the easy lay-in. But that was the closest they would get as Barry's Alexandria Fernander converted a three-point play on the next possession.

The Bucs nailed 17 of 22 shots from the line, including 16 of 20 in the second half, erasing any chance Bryant had for a comeback.

Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatsfield, Mass.) tallied ten points in 25 minutes off the bench from the point guard position. Senior co-captain Joanna Skiba (Providence, R.I.) scored her team's first six points, finishing with 11.

Bryant (6-5, 3-4 NE-10) returns to the court Saturday when they conclude the Barry Holiday Classic against Nova Southeastern at 4 p.m. in warm Miami. Nova, who is 2-8, lost to Arkansas Tech 53-51 Friday afternoon in the first game of the tourney.