Sunday, December 07, 2008

BULLDOGS DROP 64-57 HEARTBREAKER TO LAFAYETTE SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Boxscore

EASTON, Pa. - Despite leading at the half, the Bryant University women's basketball team, led by 17 points from senior co-captain Cara Johnson (Endicott, N.Y.), couldn't hold on for a win against Lafayette College, ending their road trip on a 64-57 heartbreaker at Kirby Field House Sunday afternoon.

Bryant (3-6) got off to a hot start, going up 4-0 thanks in part to four-straight travelling violations from the home team, but Lafayette (4-5) caught up quickly, taking a slight edge and them trading leads with the Bulldogs for much of frame.

Neither team had more than a one-point lead until Bryant took a 26-21 advantage with 3:54 remaining after two successful Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) free throws and a three-point play from Johnson.

Lafayette would draw a pair of fouls in the final 1:30 to get back to just a three-point deficit entering the half, 30-27 in Bryant's favor.

Johnson's 10 points paced the game at the break, matched by Lafayette's Elizabeth Virgin.

But the Leopards would score four straight out of the gates to take over the lead, 32-31. Lafayette went up, 39-35, before the Bulldogs started to get back to scoring. Bryant completed two-straight and-one plays to reclaim the lead, 43-41, with 11:49 showing on the clock.

But the home side soon took it right back, going up by one and holding onto a single-point lead until Bryant's Johnson and junior Kristin Mraz (Johnstown, N.Y.) teamed up for five points and a 52-48 advantage with 5:31 to play.

But as the game approached the one-minute mark, Cristin Zavocki made it a four-point game to Lafayette's advantage, 61-57 with a quick layup. From there, all that was left for Bryant was to foul. And while the Leopards missed 4-of-6 in the final 60 seconds, the Bulldogs missed on three-straight trips to their own basket, finally falling, 64-57.

Johnson led Bryant in both points (17) and rebounds (8), while Lafayette had four players in double-digits, led by a game-high 19 points from LaKeisha Wright and a double-double from Virgin (14p, 12r).

The Bulldogs now take a 21-day break from the hardwood, returning after the holiday to take on Colgate in the Fordham Tournament on Dec. 28. Bryant will stay in the Bronx on Saturday, Dec. 29 for a Day Two matchup against either Norfolk State or host Fordham University.