NORTH ANDOVER, MASS. – Nia Scott tallied a career-high 25 points and 18 rebounds for a double-double as the Bryant University women's basketball team defeated Merrimack 80-73 to improve to 5-0 in Massachusetts on Wednesday night.
 
Mimi Rubino tied her career-high of 19 points, and Mia Mancini tallied 13 points in the victory.
 
The Black and Gold outscored the Warriors 50-34 in the second half. This was the first time Bryant had scored 50 points in a half, and the Bulldogs scored 80 points for a second straight game, the second time in DI program history.

Game Information
Bryant 80, Merrimack 73
Records: Bryant (5-0) (0-0), Merrimack (2-3), (0-0)
Location: Lawler Arena (North Andover, Mass..)

Key Moment
 

• With under 30 seconds, the Bulldogs were trailing by seven (57-50), before Nia Scott converted an and-one layup and Mimi Rubino nailed a buzzer-beater three to shrink the deficit to one (57-56) heading into the fourth quarter.

 
How it Happened

• The Warriors jumped out to a 13-8 lead in the first five minutes of the game. Nia Scott led the team with four points during the stretch.
• Both teams would tally six for the remainder of the quarter, resulting in a five-point deficit for the Bulldogs (19-14).
• Merrimack would earn a slight 8-6 edge to begin the second quarter, which created a seven-point lead for the Warriors with five minutes left (27-20). Mimi Rubino and Nia Scott each had three points, both on three-point plays.
• The Black and Gold posted ten to close the half, while the Warriors scored 12, creating a nine-point hole for Bryant at the half (39-30). Scott ended the half with a team-leading 12 points.
• Bryant came out strong in the second half, outscoring Merrimack 8-4, and cutting the lead to four, three minutes into the half (42-38). Scott rebounded a missed free throw and converted the layup, forcing a Warriors timeout.
• Merrimack would go on a 10-6 run in the next five minutes, forcing a Bryant timeout (52-44).
• Bryant stormed back with a 12-5 run to end the third quarter (57-56). The run included six points in the final minute that were produced by a Scott and-one and Rubino buzzer-beater three-pointer.
• The Bulldogs would outscore Merrimack (10-6) in the first five minutes of the final quarter, earning a three-point lead (66-63).
• The game was closely contested until the end, with Bryant outdueling the Warriors 14-10, for an 80-73 victory.

Stats

• Scott posted 25 points and 18 rebounds for a double-double.
• Rubino tallied 19 points on 7-12 shooting (58.3%).
• Mancini posted 13 points.
• The Bulldogs out-rebounded Merrimack 35-37.
• The Black and gold outscored the Warriors 50-34 in the second half.
• Bryant held the Warriors to 38% shooting (10-26) in the second half.
• The Bulldogs posted 80 points on 50% shooting from the field, 25% from deep, and 75% from the line.
• Rubino and Mancini each had four steals.

Notes

• Rubino now has 20 games with a made three-pointer.
• Rubino posted her 12^th game of 10+ with the Bulldogs and fourth this season.
• Rubino tied her career-high of 19 points, the second time she has reached that mark with the Black and Gold.
• Scott posted her second career game of 20+ points with a career-high 25.
• This is Scott's 23^rd game with 10+ boards, as she tallied a career-high 18 rebounds.
• Scott recorded her 15^th career double-double and third this year.
• Scott became just the fourth different player in DI program history to record at least 25+ points and 18+ rebounds in a double-double. She joins Sydney Holloway (2x), Naana Ankoma-Mensa (2x) and Alex Klein as the only players to accomplish the feat. Holloway's 29pt-22reb double-double vs FDU on Feb. 3, 2018 is still one of the greatest indvidual performances in program history.
• The Bulldogs tallied back-to-back games of 80+ points for the second time in DI history. It is the first time they've accomplished the feat since January 2015 when they scored 82 and 87 in a weekend sweep of FDU and Saint Francis U.
• This was the first time this season that Bryant recorded 50 points in a half.
• The Bulldogs have outscored teams 213-119 in the second half (18.8 ppg).
• The Black and Gold have out-rebounded every team this year.

Next Up
Bryant continues its five-game road trip on Saturday, traveling to Easton, Mass., to take on Stonehill.