Box Score STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Propelled by a career-high 26 points from junior Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.), the Bryant University women's basketball team edged Wagner College, 71-67, on Monday afternoon at the Spiro Sports Center.
Two days after seeing a three-game winning streak snapped on the road against Mount St. Mary's, the Bulldogs (11-6, 4-2 Northeast Conference) improved to 5-0 in contests played following losses, sending the Seahawks (2-15, 1-5 NEC) to their 10th straight defeat.
If not for Douglas, who finished the afternoon 8-for-13 from the field, the Bulldogs might not have been so fortunate. But the Silver Springs, Md., native reeled an even 13 points in both halves while shattering her previous career high by six points.
Two other Bulldogs joined her in double digits, as senior Brittany Stahura (Amsterdam, N.Y.) and junior Katie Whittington (Twinsburg, Ohio) both logged 11 points apiece, with the latter setting a new season high in scoring. Stahura was particularly effective in the second half when she picked up nine of her 11 points on the day and garnered a block, while Whittington finished 3-of-8 from the field while dishing a team-high five assists.
One point shy of her team-leading sixth double-double, sophomore Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) added to Bryant's success with nine points and a team-high 12 boards, while both Stahura and Douglas each matched Whittington with five helpers apiece.
From the field, the Bulldogs were a hair off their season-high mark in shooting, as the team finished 24-of-57 from the field for a 42.1 percent clip. Bryant attempted just seven shots from long range, finishing the afternoon 3-for-7 (42.9 percent). One game after going to the line just 12 times, the Bulldogs finished Monday shooting 20-of-29 from the charity stripe for an even 69 percent conversion rate.
Wagner did hold a 39-32 edge in rebounding, however, and the league's second-best team in rejections lived up to that reputation, as the Seahawks totaled six blocks over Bryant's two. The Bulldogs were better in the takeaway department, earning 16 steals and committing 14 turnovers while Wagner accumulated 23 giveaways and garnered just five steals.
The Seahawks soared out of the gate to start the second half, using the long ball to pull to within three with 10:51 left in regulation. Wagner knocked down five treys and outscored Bryant, 20-13, in the first 10 minutes of the half.
But the Bulldogs responded with an 8-1 run that put them ahead, 54-44, with 8:47 left in regulation. Stahura played a key role in that run, recording back-to-back baskets that fueled the Bulldogs during that critical stretch.
Wagner managed to outscore Bryant by six down the stretch, ending the game on a 23-17 run that made the visitors work for each and every point with the game on the line. A phenomenal second half by Kelly Clark accounted for the majority of Wagner's production, as the senior finished with 18 second-half points, finishing the game with 22 altogether.
After battling back and forth for nearly the entire first frame, Bryant was finally able to pull away by means of an 11-0 run over a four-minute span to pull ahead, 27-18, with 3:56 left in the half. The Bulldogs would take a 10-point lead into the locker room, holding a 33-23 advantage at the break. Douglas would finish the first half leading all players with 13 points, while Whittington chipped in seven.
After the Seahawks missed six of their first seven shots, Wagner settled down and finished the half shooting a respectable 40.9 percent from the field on a 9-of-22 clip. Bryant, meanwhile, went 12-of-32 for a 37.5 field goal percentage. Turnovers proved to be costly for the home team, as Wagner totaled more than twice the amount of giveaways (17) than Bryant (8).
Next weekend, Bryant begins a season-long four-game homestand starting with a Saturday (Jan. 21) afternoon NEC tilt against Quinnipiac, a team that the Bulldogs fell to earlier this season. On Monday (Jan. 23), Bryant hosts fellow Constitution State foe Central Connecticut. Tipoff for both games is set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
For continuing coverage of Bryant University women's basketball, check www.bryantbulldogs.com; also follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.
