January 8, 2008

WOMEN FALL TO ASSUMPTION AT HOME, 58-48, TUESDAY NIGHT

Boxscore

SMITHFIELD, RI - The Bryant University women's basketball team fell in back-to-back contests for the first time since late November, dropping a 58-48 decision to Assumption College Wednesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

The loss followed Saturday's 85-71 defeat at The College of Saint Rose, and offensive pressure forced the Bulldogs to struggle from the beginning in both games.

Assumption (12-3, 7-2 Northeast-10) charged out to a 10-1 lead on the back of two-straight treys from Beth Plasski, not allowing Bryant (11-4, 6-4) to answer at all, save a single free throw from senior captain Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass.). The Greyhounds quickly extended their lead to 25-13 with 10 minutes gone in the first half before Bryant pulled within nine on a Lindsey Hudspeth (Mount Laurel, NJ) 3-pointer with 8:43 to play before the break.

The teams traded baskets over the final seven minutes of first-half play and the Greyhounds took a 35-27 advantage into the locker room at the intermission, led by Plasski's nine points and eight rebounds from Charde Floyd.

Kelsey O'Keefe's (Warren, Mass.) seven points paced Bryant after the opening frame while the Greyhounds outshot the Bulldogs, 46.9 percent to 35.5 percent.

Bryant tried to climb back in at the start of the second half, cutting Assumption's lead to 39-31 after Kokoski stole an inbound pass that led to a quick bucket from Jamie Campbell (Springfield, Mass.). But the Bulldogs found themselves in foul trouble just four minutes into the second frame when O'Keefe, Bryant's leading-scorer averaging 16.5 points per game entering Wednesday's contest, drew back-to-back whistles - her third and fourth fouls - for the second-consecutive game.

Two successful free throws from Hudspeth cut the Greyhounds' lead to six with 6:35 showing on the clock, but its would be the closest Bryant would come to a comeback before running out of time with a final tally of 58-48.

The Bulldogs hit just 2-of-6 from the free throw line in the final five minutes of the game, while Assumption made good on 4-of-4 from the charity stripe. Bryant, led by Kokoski's 12 points and a career-high nine rebounds from Stephanie Fontaine (Franklin, Mass.), shot just 30 percent from the field on the day. O'Keefe was limited to just six second-half minutes and was held to single-digit points (9) for just the second time all season. Plasski led the game with 13 points.

A pair of Bulldogs notched new career highs despite the loss. In addition to Fontaine, Hudspeth's 20 minutes and seven boards were both new highs, while her seven points tied her all-time best.

Bryant will next travel to Pleasantville, NY to face off with Pace University, Thurs., Jan 10 at 5:30 p.m. This will be the only regular-season meeting between the two Northeast-10 Conference foes.