February 18, 2010

BULLDOGS IMPROVE ON INAUGURAL DI SEASON, PICK UP 12TH WIN OVER WAGNER 74-60

Boxscore

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Led by great second-half defense and senior tri-captain Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.), the Bryant University women's basketball team recorded its 12th win of the season and ninth in the Northeast Conference as it defeated Wagner University, 74-60, on Thursday evening in its first-ever visit to the Spiro Sports Center in Staten Island, N.Y.

After winning 11 games in its inaugural Division I season, the Bulldogs one-upped last season's total by recording their 12th win against Wagner on Thursday night. Bryant (12-14, 9-6 NEC) was led by O'Keefe's fourth double-double of the season. The Massachusetts native recorded a game-high 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in 30 minutes of action. Eight other Bulldogs scored in the contest.

The Black and Gold held Wagner (9-17, 6-9 NEC) to only eight field goals in the second half and a 22.2 percent shooting percentage. Six of the Wagner field goals were recorded by its leading scorer Stephanie McBride. Bryant shot 34.9 percent from the field for the game and was 21-30 from the charity stripe.

The Seahawks had three players score in double figures with McBride leading the way. McBride recorded 21 points, 19 of which came in the second half, on 7-13 shooting. The junior guard was 3-4 from beyond the arc.

After the first eight minutes of action the Bulldogs and the Seahawks were all knotted up at 13 apiece. O'Keefe played well down low to start the game and registered seven of the first 13 Bryant points. After eight minutes of play the Bulldogs held an 8-4 advantage in points in the paint.

Both teams continued the good shooting to start the game as the home team took a 24-23 lead with a long jumper by Ashley Olsen with 6:30 remaining in the first half. O'Keefe had already recorded 12 points at that point in the period. The captain was 5-6 from the field including 2-2 from beyond the arc to start the game.

With a three by tri-captain Kristin Mraz (Johnstown, N.Y.) with 55 seconds remaining in the half the Bulldogs took its largest lead of the stanza as they went up 35-29. The six-point lead didn't last long as Wagner's Kanifa Hicks hit a jumper with 30 seconds left on the clock to bring the score to its halftime deficit of 35-31 in favor of the Black and Gold.

In a half that consisted of eight lead changes, O'Keefe led the Bulldogs with 12 points and four rebounds. Junior Lindsey Hudspeth (Mount Laurel, N.J.) provided a spark off the bench for Bryant as she went 2-2 from 3-point range. BU outscored Wagner 14-6 in bench points.

Bryant opened the second half on a quick 6-0 run to take a 10-point, 41-31 lead, before giving up the first Seahawk basket of the second half with 17:40 remaining in regulation. O'Keefe picked up right where she left off in the second period as she recorded four points on the Bryant run.

Hudspeth, a New Jersey native, struck again with 14 minutes remaining in the second half by hitting her third 3-point bucket of the night to give the Bulldogs a 46-33 lead, the largest of the game to that point for Bryant.

Over the next four minutes, the Bulldogs held the Seahawks without a field goal to take a 17-point, 53-36 lead, at the halfway point of the second stanza.

Following a Jaime Campbell technical foul with nine minutes left in the game, McBride broke up the Bryant run with back-to-back 3-point field goals from the left wing to bring her squad within 11 points, down 54-43.

Over the next five minutes of play the Bulldogs went on a 15-6 run to lead the Seahawks by its largest lead of the game, 69-49 with 3:12 left to play. Wagner was able to trim the margin to 14 points but would get no closer as they were defeated by BU. 74-60.

The win establishes the 2009-10 season as Bryant's most successful campaign at the DI level.  "I think it's a great accomplishment for our program. We have played a tougher schedule this year and to improve on last season's total really illustrates the direction this program is going," said Coach Burke.

The Bulldogs will continue its two-game road trip as they travel to Emmitsburg, Md. for a date with the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 3 p.m. The Mount leads the series 1-0 over the Black and Gold as they defeated the Bulldogs 71-68 last season at the Knott Arena.