Bulldogs fall to URI, 60-56, Sun. in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team fell to Rhode Island, 60-56, Sunday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Rams' (8-3) methodical pace and tough-nosed defense were too much for the Bulldogs (6-4) to overcome as they drop their third-straight heading into another lengthy break.

Sophomore center Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) led the Bulldogs with a career-high 16 points to go along with nine boards, while junior forward Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) put up 12 points and 11 rebounds in 37 minutes.

Senior point guard Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) finished with 14 points, eight assists and three rebounds, while Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.) registered seven points in just 26 minutes.

URI freshman Charise Wilson finished with a game-high 24 points and five boards with Symone Bullard and Tayra Melendez combining for 21 to round out the URI double-digit scorers.

Patience and sound defense, mixed with 10 early points from Wilson, helped URI open a 19-7 lead through the first 10 minutes of action Sunday afternoon. But, the Bulldogs closed the half on a 15-6 run to get it within three, 25-22, heading into halftime.

Wilson wound up closing the half with 16 points and four boards while Olander and Rucker combined for 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs. However, the 22 point output marked a season low for points in a half for the Black and Gold.

Despite the low-scoring first half, both teams came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders, each knocking down a quartet of shots to keep URI in front, 36-33, at the 15:50 mark of the second half. A Winder triple at the 14:51 mark briefly evened the score, 36-36, but a sweet drive and finish from Wilson pushed the Rams back in front, 38-36.

Rhody pushed their second half lead to eight, 48-40, thanks to a Melendez and-one at the 8:33 mark, but a clutch Rucker bucket on the subsequent possession and four-straight points from Jenniqua Bailey kept Bryant within striking distance with time winding down.

The Black and Gold battled to cut the URI lead to a single point with just over five minutes to play but the visitors refused to let them get any closer as four-straight points from Tati Johnson boosted the margin back to five, 52-47, at the final media break of the contest.

The Bulldogs whittled the deficit to just three points on two separate occasions but they were unable to convert on the offensive end despite multiple opportunities. A pair of clutch free throws from Bullard iced the game for the Rams, 60-56.

Bryant returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 31 for a New Years Eve showdown with New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., as the Bulldogs look to snap their three-game skid.