December 29, 2007

2007 BRYANT HOLIDAY CLASSIC

BRYANT TIES SCHOOL RECORD WITH EIGHTH-STRAIGHT WIN, 74-55, OVER CALDWELL COLLEGE
Saint Anselm stomps New York Tech in Game 1, 78-51

Jamie Campbell scored a career-high 13 points in Bryant's 74-55 win over Caldwell College saturday.

SMITHFIELD, RI - Junior guard Cara Johnson (Endicott, NY) scored a career-high 21 points while sophomore Jamie Campbell (Springfield, Mass.) chipped in a career-high 13 points of her own to lead the Bryant University women's basketball team past Caldwell College, 74-55, Saturday afternoon in the 2007 Bryant Holiday Classic at the Chace Athletic Center. The victory upped the Bulldogs' winning streak to eight straight, tying a Bryant record for consecutive wins.

The Bulldogs (10-2) never trailed in their final contest of the two-day tournament, jumping out to a quick 9-0 lead 3:35 into the opening half. Bryant would move that lead to double-digits at the 8:44 mark with a layup from senior captain Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass.) in traffic that gave the Bulldogs a 19-9 edge and jumpstarted a 24-9 run to close out the half and give the home team a 41-18 advantage at the break.

Bryant attacked Caldwell (8-2) on the glass, outrebounding its opponent, 33-16 in the first half while limiting the Cougars to just four first-frame baskets (13.3 percent shooting).

But the Cougars found their groove early in the second half, putting pressure on the Bulldogs for a more evenly matched frame. Caldwell outshot Bryant, 21-15 to open the second half, and drew within 15 points when Janay Perkins notched a quick bucket after Stephanie Cadet hit from 3-point range, taking hold of the momentum.

But the clock would hit zero before Caldwell could complete its comeback. Bryant closed the game with an 8-2 run in the last three minutes, extending its lead to a 74-55 final.

A trio of Bulldogs - Campbell, Johnson and sophomore Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) - set new career highs in Saturday's contest. Johnson grabbed 11 boards to compliment her 21 points, while O'Keefe tied her career-high rebounds with a game-best 15 and dished out six helpers for a another career and game best. O'Keefe and Johnson both registered double-doubles in the matchup.

The Bryant women take a few days off and hit the court again after the New Year, when the Bulldogs will return to Northeast-10 Conference play and host Merrimack College, Wed., Jan. 2 at 5:30 p.m.

GAME 1: SAINT ANSELM PUMMELS NEW YORK TECH, 78-51

SMITHFIELD, RI - Backed by 45.6 percent shooting, the Saint Anselm women's basketball team topped the New York Institute of Technology in convincing fashion, 78-51, in the final day of the 2007 Bryant Holiday Classic at the Chace Athletic Center Saturday afternoon.

The Bears (3-8) were stifled from the start by the Hawks (4-7), who took an 10-0 lead before allowing their first point against, a made free throw from NYIT's Brittany Almonte. Saint Anselm's lead hovered around double-digit range for the first 10 minutes of the first frame, but with 10:44 showing on the clock, the Hawks broke the game wide open with an 18-2 run that closed out the frame for a 38-14 advantage.

But after shooting just 11.5 percent (3-for-26) from the floor in the first half, New York Tech did its best to mount a comeback in the second frame. But despite scoring 37 second-half points, the deficit was too big to cover in too little time for the Bears. The Hawks' lead continued to grow, maxing out at 39 points (65-26 at 10:55) and never dipping below a 21-point advantage.

Saint Anselm shot a shade under 52 percent from the floor before the break to finish the game at 45.6 percent (26-for-57) on the day. New York Tech's Madison Robertson led the game with 12 points, while Saint Anselm's Cassaundra Thorpe pulled down a game-high nine boards.

The game, the first of four Saturday contests, was wrought with fouls, with both teams combining for 51 - 31 of them coming from the Hawks' side. Saint Anselm also owned the boards, outrebounding its opponent, 57-25.

The Hawks finished the two-day tournament, 1-1, after a loss to Caldwell College Friday afternoon, while the Bears went 0-2 on the weekend.