SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind a combined 41-point effort from freshman Ivory Bailey (Wyomissing, Pa.) and junior Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.), the Bryant University women's basketball team took down Maine, 65-52, Friday night in its season opener at the Chace Athletic Center.

Ivory Bailey exploded for 24 points, seven rebounds and two steals in her collegiate debut, while Winder picked up right where she left off last season to finish with 17 points and 7 boards to help the Bulldogs (1-0) breeze past a very physical Black Bear (0-1) team.

Sophomore center Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) was equally impressive putting up 12 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks for her first-career double-double effort while senior points guard Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) dished out a game-high six assists.

Maine's Sigi Koizar paced the visitors with 16 points, while All-America East Preseason Teamer Liz Wood finished with 11 points and six boards.  

After a slow opening few minutes, both teams eventually shook off the offseason rust, settling into a rhythm on the floor; but it was the Bulldogs who held a 17-13 edge with 7:39 left in the first half. The Black Bears continued to hang around but with every push Ivory Bailey seemed to have a response as the true freshman knocked down her third 3 of the period at the 3:30 mark to push the Bryant lead to 27-20.

A put back and a transition 3 from Winder upped the Black and Gold lead to 12 points, their largest of the half, forcing a Maine timeout with 2:18 left until halftime. The Bulldogs closed the half on a 13-0 run to open a 36-20 lead heading into the locker room.

Ivory Bailey led all scorers at the break with 15 points, while Winder chipped in 13 points to go along with four boards.

Bryant opened the second half picking right back up where they left off, holding a 42-28 edge at the under-16 media timeout. The hosts edge ballooned to 15 points, 45-30, with 11:47 on the clock, in part thanks to the tough-nosed play of senior forward Leigha Tacey (Foxboro, Mass.) who finished with four points and five boards in 21 minutes off the bench.

The Bulldogs' lead grew to as large as 19 with just over 10 minutes to play until five-straight points from Koizar brought the Black Bear back within 14 with 9:57 left to play. The lead remained double digits through the final minutes of the second half, solidifying the impressive 65-52 victory for the Bulldogs.

Looking ahead, the Black and Gold will hit the road for yet another America East foe when they head to Burlington, Vt., for a showdown with the Catamounts, Tuesday at 7 p.m.