December 04, 2009

Box Score

BULLDOGS RECOVER FROM SLOW START, DEFEAT TERRIERS 55-41

BRYANT EARNS FIRST NORTHEST CONFERENCE VICTORY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After being down as much as 11 points in the first half, the Bryant University women's basketball team used stifling defense to rally and earn its first Northeast Conference victory, defeating St. Francis (NY) 55-41.

The Bulldogs (3-4, 1-0) were led offensively by junior Siamone Bennett's (Newburgh, N.Y.) 17 points and nine rebounds. Bennett was 5-9 from the field and 7-11 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Lekia Cowen (Hopedale, Mass.) hit three key shots from beyond the arc en route to her 10 points.

Bryant's defense held St. Francis (NY) (0-6, 0-1) to just 14 points and only four made field goals in the second half. The Bulldogs also out-rebounded the Terriers by a margin of 45-38.

Bryant got off to a slow start this evening as they fell behind 11 points just halfway into the first period, but with five minutes remaining in the half and the Bulldogs down 27-18, Bennett sparked the run. The post-player hit a layup with 4:52 remaining to pull the Dogs within 7, which was followed up by a Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) three-point bucket with just over three minutes remaining. Bennett went back to work down low hitting another layup and later drawing a foul with 31 seconds remaining, giving her a chance to tie the game before the half. The junior hit both free-throws and knotted things up at 27. The free-throws completed a 9-0 run for BU.

The second half was all about defense for the Bulldogs. Bryant only allowed four field goals all half and limited the Terriers to a 17.4 percent shooting mark for the second stanza. Cowen led the way for her squad in the second half recording nine of her 10 points in the final 20 minutes. With just under 12 minutes remaining the Bulldogs were down 37-32 when Cowen displayed her range. She hit back-to-back three-point shots within 45 seconds of one another to give the Bulldogs the 38-37 lead. Bryant would never give the lead back to St. Francis (NY).

With 5:40 remaining on the clock Cowen hit her third and final three-point shot of the day to give Bryant the five point lead. The Bulldogs would cruise from there to win the game by a margin of 14 points. Bryant didn't allow a St. Francis basket over the final six minutes.

The Terriers were led offensively by Jacinda Williams who scored 11 points. Tiara Dunson registered 11 rebounds to go with her seven points. The Bulldogs shot 40 percent (8-20) from beyond the arc.

Another spark for the Bulldogs was the play off the bench and in particular, sophomore Brittany Stahura (Amsterdam, N.Y.). The forward worked hard down low grabbing crucial offensive rebounds to give Cowen and the Bulldogs multiple second chance opportunities. Stahura recorded four points.

Bryant will host America East affiliate Binghamton University on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 pm in the Chace Athletic Center.