January 29, 2010

Box Score / All-Decade Team Gallery

BULLDOGS CRUISE TO 13-POINT VICTORY OVER VISITING HAWKS ON ALUMNI DAY, 63-50

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Three Bulldogs scored in double figures and freshman Meredith Soper (Wintrhop, Mass.) recorded a career-high 11 rebounds as the Bryant women's basketball team defeated Monmouth, 63-50, on Alumni Day at the Chace Athletic Center.

Junior Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) recorded a game-high 16 points on 8-12 shooting while senior Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) added 15 points of her own on 5-6 shooting. Sophomore Lekia Cowen (Hopedale, Mass.) also shot the ball well as she went 4-8 from the field including 2-3 from beyond the arc en route to her 12-point night. O'Keefe was one of 11 players picked to the program's All-Decade squad on Saturday afternoon.

As a team Bryant (9-12, 6-4 NEC) shot 45.3 percent from the field including 45.5 percent from 3-point range. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Hawks 39-32 and shot 83.3 (10-12) percent from the charity stripe.

Monmouth (10-11, 5-5 NEC) was led by Erin Rooney and Adriana Allen. Allen recorded 13 points while Rooney added 12 of her own. Hawk guard Alexis Canady recorded six points and added a team-high six rebounds.

Coming into the game the Bulldogs and Hawks were tied for fourth place in the Northeast Conference.

Following an O'Keefe 3-point bucket 11 seconds into the game, the Bryant women's basketball team never looked back. The O'Keefe 3-point shot kicked off the Bulldogs early 11-2 run over the visiting Hawks. Bryant was a perfect 5-5 shooting from the floor during the run.

Bryant continued its hot shooting and great defense as they forced eight turnovers and shot 52.4 percent en route to its 25-10 lead with 7:25 remaining in the first period. The Bulldogs held the Hawks scoreless over a three minute span in the half as they built their lead. With 5:40 to go the Bulldogs had built up a half-high 17-point lead.

Monmouth was able to rally back towards the end of the first half and close within 13 points of the Bulldogs, down 33-20 at the break.

Leading the way for Bryant was the sophomore Cowen. Cowen shot 4-6 from the floor and 2-3 from outside for a total of 10 first-half points. O'Keefe was 4-5 from the floor for a total of 9 points while Bennett recorded eight first-half points.

The Bulldogs outshot the Hawks 53.6 percent to 33.3 percent from the field including a 42.9 percent from long range. Monmouth was 1-9 from beyond the arc.

In the second half, Bryant picked up where it left off with Soper hitting a 3-point bucket just 1:08 into the second stanza. The Bulldogs and Hawks continued to trade baskets over the first five minutes of the second half as Bryant jumped out to its biggest lead of the game, 40-22. The Bulldogs were 6-7 from the field to start the second half.

Bennett continued to shine in the second half as she recorded eight second-half points just nine minutes into the half. Bennett started the half 4-4 from the field to bring her total to 16 points with 11 minutes remaining in the contest.

Monmouth was able to bring the game back to within 11 points, 49-38, but Bryant responded as Soper drove baseline and dished a great pass to sophomore Brittany Stahura (Amsterdam, N.Y.) for the easy layup to put Bryant back up 13. Shortly after, freshman Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) showed off her defensive skills yet again as she stole the ball from a Monmouth guard and took it the length of the court for the easy layup. Douglas' layup put the Bulldogs back up by 15, 53-38. Douglas finished with eight points, seven rebounds and three steals.

The Hawks applied the pressure with six minutes remaining as they issued the full court press. During that time, Monmouth was able to come back within 10 points following a Gabby Singer 3-point bucket. Monmouth recorded a steal and turnover in quick succession as the Hawks cut the margin to, 54-48, with just over three minutes remaining. Following two O'Keefe free throws, Monmouth's Canady hit two of her own to bring the score to 56-50 with 2:30 left on the clock.

As the shot clock was running down on the next possession, Soper took a pass at the top of the key from O'Keefe and drilled the 3-point shot to take a 59-50 lead with just under two minutes remaining. The Hawks were forced to play the foul game and send the Bulldogs to the line. Bryant went 4-4 from the free throw line over the last two minutes to ice the game and pull off the 63-50 victory over the Hawks.

The Bulldogs are 6-2 over their last eight games with both losses coming against the 1st place and defending NEC champs Sacred Heart Pioneers.

"I was very pleased with the level of intensity our girls displayed today, especially at the start of each half. It's a key advanatge having big runs like that to start a game as we have done in the past two," said Coach Mary Burke.

Bryant will play its final contest of a three game homestand on Thursday, Feb. 4 when the Bulldogs host NEC foe Central Connecticut. It will be the first matchup of the season between the two programs and the third overall. Bryant leads the series 2-0 over the Blue Devils.