January 21, 2010

Box Score

BULLDOGS COMPLETE SEASON SWEEP OF BOBCATS, WIN 67-42 ON THURSDAY NIGHT

HAMDEN, CONN. - The Bryant University women's basketball team held a commanding 27-point lead in the first half and never looked back as it completed the season sweep and routed Quinnipiac, 67-42, on the road Thursday night in the TD Bank Sports Center.

The 25-point deficit is the largest of Bryant's brief Division 1 history. The Bulldogs (7-11, 4-3 NEC) were led by senior captain Kristin Mraz (Johnstown, N.Y.) and freshman Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) as they cruised to the 25-point victory over the Bobcats. Mraz and Soper each netted 17 points for Bryant. The 1 7 points were a career-high for the freshman and a season-high for the senior captain. Soper added eight rebounds while Mraz contributed eight assists to their 17-point nights.

Quinnipiac's (9-9, 4-3 NEC) Jacinda Dunbar recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards, while junior Courtney Kaminski added 10 points, but it was not enough for the Bobcats.

The Bryant defense was the story of the game as the Bulldogs held the Bobcats to a 29.1 percent field goal percentage, did not allow one 3-point bucket and outrebounded QU by a slim margin of, 39-38. Bryant shot 44.4 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from 3-point range and 77.3 percent from the free throw stripe. The Bulldogs also forced a season-high 29 turnovers.

With great defensive play, the Bulldogs jumped out to an early 15-0 lead just 5:27 into the contest. The Bulldogs didn't allow a Quinnipiac point until 6:02 into the game. At one point in the first half, Bryant held a 27-point lead of 33-6, the largest of the game en route to the 33-11 halftime score. The 11 Quinnipiac points are the fewest points scored in a half in the Northeast Conference this season and the lowest points allowed in one half of play for the Bulldogs.

The freshman duo of Soper and Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) played a great first half, scoring eight and six, respectively. Soper added six first-half rebounds to her eight points. Bryant forced 16 first-half turnovers and outrebounded the Bobcats, 24-18. The Bulldogs held Quinnipiac to a 18.5 percent field goal percentage in the first half.

Quinnipiac played a better second half as it was able to bring the score back to within 16 points but never got any closer. Mraz, Soper and junior Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) accounted for 27 of Bryant's 34 second-half points. Mraz led the way in the half with 12 second-half points. After the Bobcats brought the game to within 16 points, the Bulldogs responded and outscored Quinnipiac, 21-12, over the final nine minutes.

Bryant puts its three-game winning streak on the line Saturday, Jan. 23 when the Bulldogs travel to Fairfield, Conn. for a matchup with Sacred Heart. The Pioneers lost their first conference game this season as they fell to Central Connecticut at home this evening. SHU is 13-5 overall and 6-1 in the NEC. The game will be played in the Pitt Center at 1 p.m.