BRYANT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

December 30, 2006

Women's Hoops Defeats Nova Southeastern 65-50 at Barry Holiday Classic

MIAMI SHORES, FLA. - The Bryant University Women's Basketball team bounced back strong Saturday defeating Nova Southeastern 65-50 in their second and final game at the Barry Holiday Classic.

After a disappointing 65-50 loss Friday against Barry University, Head Coach Mary Burke shook up the starting lineup. Only senior co-captain Erin Murphy (Albany, N.Y.) remained from Friday's starting five. The new look resulted in a 20-9 run to start the game for the Bulldogs, sparked by outstanding defense out of a full-court press.

Making their second starts of the season, freshmen Courtney Schermerhorn (Lowell, Mass.) and Adrianne Mayshar (West Boylston, Mass.) each tallied five early points, while Bryant's defense forced 11 first-half turnovers.

Bryant went into the locker room leading 36-28, as senior Lauren Rubenoff (New Hartford, Conn.) took a pretty pass from Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass.) and converted the easy lay-up with five seconds remaining in the first frame.

Rubenoff had eight first-half points and finished with 13, while Kokoski led the Bulldogs in assists with a career-high seven, while adding 11 points.

The Bulldogs' press forced five turnovers in five straight possessions early in the second half, resulting in 11 straight points for senior co-captain Joanna Skiba (Providence, R.I.) and a 17-0 Bryant run that spanned over eight minutes.

Coming off the bench, Skiba finished with a team-high 18 points, including 15 in the second half.

Bryant (7-5, 3-4 NE-10) returns to Northeast-10 action Wednesday at Merrimack (5:30 p.m.) in North Andover, Mass.

####