Bulldogs snap skid vs. UNH, 67-61, Sunday in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Thanks to a game-high 17 points and eight assists from senior point guard Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.), the Bryant University women's basketball team snapped a four-game skid with a 67-61 win over New Hampshire, Sunday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

Bailey put together arguably her best game of the 2013-14 campaign, putting up 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go along with a career-high eight helpers and three steals. Senior forward Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) added nine points and 10 boards in just 19 minutes, while sophomore Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) and graduate student Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Kelsey Hoagan led New Hampshire with 17 points in 36 minutes, with Kaylee Kilpatrick chipping in 15 points, three blocks and three steals. Ariel Gaston put up 13 points, while Elizabeth Belanger added 11 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats.

Bryant outscored the Wildcats, 30-14, in the paint and had a +13 advantage in bench scoring.

After weathering a sloppy start, the Bulldogs settled down opening a 13-8 advantage, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers from Soper, nearly eight minutes into the contest. The Wildcats knotted the score, 16-16, at the under-eight media break, but back-and-forth play kept the two teams close through the seven-minute mark.

New Hampshire took a brief 25-22 edge, but a 4-0 run by the Bulldogs jolted the hosts back out front, 26-25, with 5:19 remaining in the opening half. Despite a highly competitive half, the Bulldogs held a 33-29 lead heading into the locker room.

At the half, Soper and Rucker led the Bulldogs with eight points apiece, while Hogan paced all scorers with a game-high 12 first-half points.

Out of the locker room, the Black and Gold opened up a 40-29 lead, their largest of the contest, until a Ariel Gaston triple brought the visitors back within eight at the under-16 media timeout. Bryant held an eight-point advantage, 52-44, through the 12-minute mark, thanks to some collective sharp shooting and tough-nosed defense.

Another Soper trifecta pushed the Bulldog lead to 13 points, 57-44, with 10:09 to play. Bryant held the double-digit edge through five minutes until a Belanger 3-pointer brought the Wildcats within nine, 64-55, with 3:59 left on the clock.

A 6-0 run by UNH brought the visitors within three points, 64-61, with just under two minutes remaining in the game until a Bailey lay-in with 42 seconds left, propelling Bryant to the 67-61 victory.

With the win, Bryant improves to 2-4 overall as they look to get back on track in the month of December. The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday when they visit Yale for a 5 p.m. tip.

For all the latest news on the Bryant University women's basketball team, visit BryantBulldogs.com.