November 14, 2008

BRYANT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS NEW HAMPSHIRE 69-66 FOR FIRST DIVISION I WIN

DURHAM, NH - Courtney Schermerhorn hit two free throws with 42 seconds left to break a 64-64 tie and Kelsey O'Keefe and Kristin Mraz added free throws in the final seconds as the Bryant University women's basketball team opened Division I play with a 69-66 win over host University of New Hampshire Friday evening at Lundholm Gym. 

Bryant (1-0) got 17 points from O'Keefe while Siamone Bennett added 15 points on 6 of 11 shooting from the floor to lead the Bulldogs.  The Bulldogs trailed the Wildcats (0-1) 37-28 at the half but outscored UNH 41 to 29 in the second to pull out the win. 

Bryant shot 38.1 percent from the floor in the game and made 7 of 23 from 3-point range.  Mraz did a solid job running the offense for the Bulldogs, going 4-for-6 from the floor including knocking down three 3-point field goals while turning the ball over just once in 33 minutes.

UNH shot just 39 percent and turned the ball over 20 times.  Kelsey Hogan led all scorers with 20 points and eight rebounds but finished with seven turnovers.  The Wildcats made only 5 of 22 three-point attempts.

UNH, which led the entire first half, led by as much as 13 (45-32) following a jumper by Kelsey Hogan with 16:23 left, but a Bennett layup followed by two three's from Mraz and a trey from O'Keefe helped pull the Bulldogs to within two at 47-45. A Jamie Campbell jumper tied the game but the Wildcats would continue to answer, building back a 59-52 lead on a layup from Racheal Fowler.

But Bryant would not go away as another three by O'Keefe followed by a Schermerhorn jumper and  a made free throw by Cara Johnson helped tie the game once again at 64 with a little over a minute left.  Schermerhorn's free throws in the closing minute would give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game and secured the team's first win.