PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Seven players scored in double figures as Providence College raced to a 104-67 victory over the Bryant University women's basketball team on Tuesday night at Alumni Hall.

It was the first meeting between the Bulldogs (1-1) and Friars (0-1) since 1976 and head coach Mary Burke's first meeting against her alma mater. Burke, 1987 graduate and PC Hall of Famer, was honored prior to the start of the contest.

Facing its only Big East team this season, the Black and Gold pushed the Friars to the limit in the first half, building a seven-point lead with 5:08 remaining before a late spurt pushed the hosts in front by five, 47-42, at the half. It was all Friars in the second half, however, as they outscored the Bulldogs 57-25.

The story all game long was the three-point shooting for Providence. As Bryant raced out to an early lead, the Friars used the deep ball to get right back into the game. They were 12-for-24 from long range in the first half alone and finished the evening 17-for-33 from beyond the arc.

Bryant opened the game with five-straight points, three from senior Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.). Three-pointers from Sarah Beal and Danielle Pearson brought the Friars back in the game but back-to-back layups from freshman Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) pushed Bryant's lead back to five, 13-8.

Providence's Tori Rule then took over, hitting three-straight trifecta's to give the Friars their first lead of the night, 17-15. Miranda Simpson then joined the party, hitting three-straight three's to push the Friars lead to five, 28-23, with 9:25 to play.

The Bulldogs didn't back down as they answered with a 13-0 run to take a 36-29 lead with 5:08 left in the first half. Senior Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.) started the run with a three from the corner, classmate Stephanie Cardamone (Freehold, N.J.) knocked down a triple to put the Bulldogs ahead and Schissler followed that with her second three to highlight the run.

Providence had an answer, and again it was Rule. She put a stop to the Bryant run with three-straight hits from beyond the arc and jump-started an 18-6 run to close out the half. Simpson's three with 1:08 left in the half broke a 38-all tie and put the Friars on top for good.

In the second half, the Friars used their speed and athleticism to distance themselves. They shot 65 percent (21-for-32) in the second half and were 5-for-9 from beyond the arc.  Bryant got back within seven but Providence rattled off a 30-5 run to put the game away with 8:54 remaining.

Bailey led all Bryant scorers with 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting and senior Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Olander finished with eight points and seven rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 38 percent (26-for-67) as a team and turned the ball over 23 times.

The Bulldogs are back in action this Saturday, Nov. 16 when they travel to Orono, Maine, to face the Black Bears. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.