January 18, 2010

Box Score

BRYANT DEFEATS YALE, 69-62, IN THE BATTLE OF THE BULLDOGS

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team needed its 11-point halftime lead to hang on and defeat Yale, 69-62, in the battle of the Bulldogs on Monday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bryant Bulldogs (6-11) had four players in double figures, including three players with 12 points apiece. Bryant freshman Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) had a career day, falling just two assists and two steals short of a triple-double. Douglas scored 12 points, dished out a career-high eight assists and recorded a career-high eight steals. Freshman Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) and senior Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) also added 12 points apiece while junior Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) added 10.

Yale (5-10) was led by freshman guards Megan Vasquez and Allie Messimer. Vasquez recorded a game-high 19 points and also added eight boards while Messimer scored 12 points of her own.

The Black and Gold outshot the Blue and White 45.7 percent to 33.3 percent in the second-ever battle of the Bulldogs. Bryant also outrebounded the Ivy League member by a margin of 36-34. The Ocean State Bulldogs attempted a season-high 31 free throws. There were 65 total free throw attempts in the contest.

In a first half that consisted of 38 free throw attempts, the Bryant women's basketball team held a 47-36 lead after one half of play. The 47 points was a half-high for the Bulldogs on the 2009-10 season. Douglas and her stifling defense led Bryant in the first half with 11 points and six steals. The Black and Gold also accumulated 22 points off of 18 Yale turnovers in the first stanza.

Bryant forced seven turnovers in the first five minutes of action to jump out to the early 15-5 lead at the 15:22 mark of the first half. The Bryant Bulldogs were 5-6 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line during the run.

Over the next eight minutes, Yale was able to rally back and knot the game up at 25 points apiece with 7:03 remaining in the period. With both teams in the double bonus, 17 free throws were attempted over the final seven minutes of the half. Douglas guided the Bulldogs back to their 11-point halftime lead by forcing three steals over the final seven.

Much like the first half, the Bryant Bulldogs started the second half with a run. Bryant opened with an 11-3 run to take, what seemed like, a commanding 58-39 lead with 15:48 remaining. Yet again, the Blue and White countered with a run of its own. Over the next eight minutes the Bulldogs from Connecticut went on a 20-3 run to bring themselves back to within 2 points, 61-59. Yale's Melissa Colborne and Messimer provided the spark for the Bulldogs on the run, recording a combined 12 points.

The Bryant defense answered the call again as they held Yale scoreless over the next 5:32 and built up a 10-point, 69-59 lead with 2:09 remaining. The Eli's scored the final three points of the game to close out the action and bring the final score to 69-62.

Bryant will return to action on Thursday, January 21 when they travel to Hamden, Conn. For a matchup with Quinnipiac at 5:30 p.m. The Bulldogs recently defeated the Bobcats, 72-62, on Saturday afternoon at the Chace Center. O'Keefe tallied a career-high 34 points in that contest.