December 19, 2007

BRYANT WOMEN TOP BRIDGEPORT, 67-57, BEHIND TRIPLE-DOUBLE FROM KOKOSKI WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Boxscore

Senior captain Lynne-Ann Kokoski notched 13 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for her first career triple- double Wednesday night.

SMITHFIELD, RI - Backed by senior captain Lynne-Ann Kokoski's first career triple-double, the Bryant University women's basketball team improved its winning streak to five games with a 67-57 victory over the University of Bridgeport in non-conference action Wednesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

The matchup - originally slated for last Sunday in Bridgeport, Conn., but postponed due to inclement weather - got off to a slow start for both the Bulldogs (7-2) and the Purple Knights (3-5), who played to a 10-9 Bryant lead after nearly 10 minutes of action.

Bridgeport took its first lead of the game, 11-10, seconds later thanks to a field goal from sophomore Shannon Malone with 11:21 showing on the clock. The two teams continued to trade baskets deep into the half, when a Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) basket from 3-point land gave Bryant a 17-16 edge with 6:07 to play in the first frame.

The Purple Knights retook the lead with just over a minute to go with a 3-point play from Linda Durmen Blunt, but the Bulldogs took a 24-23 edge into the locker room after junior Stephanie Fontaine (Franklin, Mass.) made good on the rebound of an O'Keefe shot to end the half.

Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass.) led the game at the intermission with nine points, while the Bulldogs shot just 29.7 percent in the half and were outrebounded, 25-23.

After the break, the Purple Knights came out to a 7-4 run that put them up, 30-28, but it was a lead that wouldn't last long as Bryant regained a 40-37 edge at the 7-minute mark.

The Bulldogs upped their lead to 46-39 with just over 11:00 to play in regulation and again to lead by 10 with six to play, 54-44.

It would be a lead the Bulldogs would hold through the final buzzer to end the contest on top, 67-57.

Kokoski's 13 points were a season high, while the senior registered new career highs with her 10 boards and 11 assists. Those 11 helpers also tied her for most all-time in a single game in the Bryant record books.

O'Keefe led the game with 16 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, registering a double-double of her own with two blocks and a pair of steals. The Bulldogs upped their shooting to 43.3 percent in the second half for a game average of 35.8 percent.

Bryant will next host the Coastal Atlantic Collegiate Conference's Post University tomorrow (Thurs., Dec. 20) at 5:30 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center in its last contest before the winter break. This will be the first-ever meeting between the Bulldogs and the Eagles.

The Bulldogs will return to action after the holidays when they host the Bryant Holiday Classic, Dec. 28 and 29.