BRYANT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

February 20, 2007

Bryant Hoops Closes Out Regular Season with 62-58 over Merrimack

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - On senior night at the Chace Center, the Bryant women's basketball team closed out its regular season with a 62-58 over Merrimack College.

With the victory, the Bulldogs (18-9, 14-8 NE-10) clinch the seventh seed in the Northeast-10 Tournament and will play Sunday at the Chace Center at 2 p.m in the first round of the tourney. The Bulldogs will face Saint Michael's College with the winner traveling to Saint Rose on Tuesday.

Against Merrimack, junior Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatsfield, Mass.) led the way scoring 16 points, two shy of her career-high in 38 minutes. Senior Erin Murphy (Albany, NY) posted a double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds), while Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) added 13 and nine on just 4-of-17 shooting.

Bryant struggled from the field, making just nine of its first 33 field goals and shooting only 31% (22-of-70) in the game. They grabbed 24 offensive rebounds but could not convert many lay-ins.

Leading by just seven at half, 30-23, Bryant bolted out fast to start the second as O'Keefe drained a jumper from Courtney Schermerhorn (Lowell, Mass.) to give her team a 12-point lead at 38-26.

But the Warriors slowly crept back into it and eventually closed the gap to two with 2:28 to play when Ashley Brownlee fired a three to make it 55-53. A Murphy lay-in made it 60-56 with 37 seconds to play, but Bryant's inability to make free throws gave Merrimack the last shot trailing by three.

Fortunately, Bryna Batten's three-pointer went in-and-out and Murphy sank one more free-throw to put the game out of reach.

Before the game, seniors Jessica Cegarra (Danville, NH), Joanna Skiba (Providence, RI), Lauren Rubenoff (New Hartford, CT) and Murphy were honored as part of senior day.