Bulldogs overpower Rams in 75-62 win

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team started hot and never looked back, as a pair of juniors combined for 36 points in a 75-62 victory over the University of Rhode Island on Wednesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

Classmates Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) and Katie Whittington (Twinsburg, Ohio) collected 20 and 16 points, respectively, helping the Bulldogs (4-2) bounce back from a tough loss against BC while continuing their best six-game start to a season in the program's Division I history.  The Rams, meanwhile, fell for the fourth straight game, dropping to 1-6 on the season.

After the team barely missed double-double performances in recent games, Soper came off the bench and ignited the home crowd at the 13-minute mark of the first half.  The Bay State native reeled off 11 straight points for the Black and Gold en route to a phenomenal 14-point first half, during which she hauled down an astounding eight rebounds and went a perfect 6-for-6 from the field.  She would finish the game with 20 points and 10 boards, becoming the first Bulldog to hit a double-double this year.

Whittington, meanwhile, was on fire early on for the Bulldogs, scoring 11 of the team's first 12 points by means of three long balls and a layup to push the home team out to a 12-7 lead in the opening minutes of the game. 

The Rams clawed to within two points, but Bryant went on an 11-2 run to pull in front, capping off the stretch with a steal by junior Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) to spring Soper on a fast-break layup to go up 26-15 with 7:07 to play in the first frame. 

After shooting under 30 percent against the Eagles on Sunday, the Bulldogs reeled off 14-of-31 from the field in the first half, converting 45.2 percent from the field in the first half.  URI held a commanding 27-16 lead in rebounds, but Bryant earned five steals over the Rams' one. 

As has been the case all season, the Bulldogs were dominant in the paint, controlling post play with 18 points down low.  The Rams made matters worse by committing 14 first-half turnovers, while the home team was sure to pounce on those chances, scoring 16 points off giveaways. 

The second half started similarly to the first, much to the delight of the Bulldogs, as the home team raced out to a 51-28 lead in the first seven minutes of the half.  Rhody had no answers for Douglas, who nailed a long two-pointer from the top of the key to get things started before senior Brittany Stahura (Amsterdam, N.Y.) scored off a turnover to put Bryant up by 16.  Douglas followed that up with back-to-back baskets to push the game further out of hand.

A jumper by Whittington with 13:31 remaining pushed Bryant's lead to 51-28, tying a previous season high for largest lead in a game set against Brown on Nov. 22.  But the Rams fought right back, scoring 10 straight to cut Bryant's lead to 13 points with over 10 minutes to play.

After the Bulldogs went back up by 20 points, URI would score 16 of the next 24 points, trimming a once 23-point lead down to just 12 with 1:23 to play.  A Bryant free throw pushed the Bulldogs' lead up to 70-57, but Ashley Rivera nailed a three-pointer for the Rams, making it a 10-point game with 55 seconds to go.  The freshman finished the evening with a game-high 22 points.

But that would be the closest URI would come, as Douglas and Whittington combined to score five straight points from the charity stripe, as the Rams conceded defeat following one last layup with seven seconds to go.

Bryant finished the game setting new season highs in field goals made (27) and field-goal percentage (40.9), as the home team shot 27-for-66 from the floor over the course of the game.  Despite the loss, the sharp-shooting Rams posted a 41.7 percent clip from the field on 25-of-60 shooting, with Rivera going 9-for-15 (60.0 percent) by herself. 

Soper's 20 points and 70.0 percent field-goal percentage on a 7-for-10 clip both tied previous single-season highs set earlier in the year.  Joining Soper and Whittington in the double-digit scoring ranks was sophomore Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.), who posted 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting and 4-of-5 free throws.  Whittington and Douglas shared the team lead in helpers, as each dished out six assists.

Bench players were pivotal again for the Black and Gold, combining for 38 of the team's 75 points (50.67 percent).  URI finished with 45 rebounds over Bryant's 38, while the Bulldogs were dominant off turnovers, committing a season-low 12 giveaways and scoring 32 points off the Rams' turnovers.  Bryant finished with 32 points in the paint over URI's 22. 

The Bulldogs will hope the strong start to the season will carry over into conference play, as Bryant next heads to Quinnipiac on Dec. 3, opening up its Northeast Conference slate against the Bobcats in a Saturday afternoon affair.  Opening tip is set for 12 p.m.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University women's basketball, check back atwww.bryantbulldogs.com, and be sure to follow the Bulldogs on @BryantAthletics.