February 9, 2008

BRYANT FALLS TO AIC IN DOUBLE-OVERTIME THRILLER, 76-74

SOPHOMORE KELSEY O'KEEFE

SMITHFIELD, RI - As the buzzer sounded, it fell. An off-balance attempt from one leg as the clock ticked down to zero, the three-point shot clanked off the backboard and swayed in the net as it passed through, tying the game yet again and sending the matchup into double overtime at the Chace Athletic Center Saturday afternoon, 68-68.

As the basket fell in, it seemed like the heroics of the Bryant University women's basketball team - starting with senior captain Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass.)'s buzzer beater to force a second overtime and continuing with double-double performances from freshman Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, NY) and sophomore Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) - would finally win out in front of a home crowd of 696 on Basketball Alumni Weekend.

But when all was said and done - after 15 ties, seven lead changes and four periods of play - the Bulldogs lost another heartbreaker, this time to American International College, 76-74.

The first half opened up quickly and the pace never slowed through the first 20 minutes. The Bulldogs (14-9, 9-9 Northeast-10) took an 11-6 lead four minutes in off a Cara Johnson (Endicott, NY) three-point field goal and Bryant continued to up its lead to 21-10 - the largest gap of the frame - with 11:53 left to play when Kristen Mraz (Johnstown, NY) drained a three from Kokoski.

But with six minutes to play before the break, the Yellow Jackets (13-9, 9-8) began to eat away at the Bulldogs' lead, cutting their deficit to five points, 27-22, with 3:43 to go. Each team would get one more bucket before intermission for a 29-24 halftime score in Bryant's favor.

The quicker-paced game allowed for a strong inside combination of Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) and Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, NY) to break out, combining for 19 of Bryant's 29 first-half points (11 from Bennett, 8 from O'Keefe) and three and four rebounds, respectively. They would each notch double-doubles in the contest, O'Keefe - her fifth - with 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Bennett - the first of her career - with a career-high 23 points and career-high 15 boards.

AIC came out in the second half to put immediate and heavy pressure on the Bulldogs, forcing the home team into turnovers in their first three possessions and keeping them off the board through the 14:29 mark.

The Yellow Jackets tied the game for the first time since the first minute of the contest, 29-29, four minutes into the half and took their first lead of the game at the 15:33 mark with a bucket from Alexis Castro.

A three from O'Keefe with just over 11 to play would reknot the game at 37-37, but AIC would continue to take leads and force Bryant to chase them for the remainder of regulation.

But with 51 seconds to go and the score tied at 52-52, O'Keefe fed the ball to Bennett as she charged into the lane for the layup and the lead. But a foul on Castro would send the Yellow Jacket leading scorer to the line with 23 seconds on the clock. The forward, who went 13-of-15 from the stripe on the day, hit them both to bring back the stalemate and send the game to overtime, 54-54.

The first extra frame saw another four ties and one lead change. But the Bulldogs saw another chance to win it with just 8.8 showing on the clock.

With AIC up 66-64, Bennett grabbed the rebound on an off-the-mark O'Keefe shot and was fouled on the second-chance shot. Making the back end of a pair from the line, Bennett narrowed the score to 66-65 in AIC's favor before Jeannette Johnathan made two from the stripe to put the Yellow Jackets up by a trey.

And when, as the clock hit zero, Kokoski's buzzer three found net, it seemed as if the momentum was in Bryant's corner as both sides prepared for yet another frame.

But AIC wouldn't let up, continuing to take the first lead and forcing the Bulldogs to catch up. But after 50 minutes of action, Bryant finally fell short. Down 76-74 with just 2.3 seconds on their side, the Bulldogs handed the ball to Johnson (12 points, 3 rebounds), who saw her shot blocked by Johnathan for a 76-74 final tally.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs saw four players hit double-digit scoring, with Kokoski's 11 points joining O'Keefe, Johnson and Bennett. Bennett went 8-for-9 from the floor and 7-of-11 from the line to pace Bryant's 35.7 percent shooting for the day. Castro led the game with a career-high 41 points and 17 rebounds. Bryant led AIC on the boards, 52-46.

Bryant continues its three-game homestand with a 5:30 bout with Saint Michael's, Wed. Feb. 13 at the Chace Athletic Center. The Bulldogs will then close out its regular-season home schedule with defending national champion Southern Connecticut on Senior Night, Sat. Feb. 16. Tipoff is 1:30 p.m.