Colonials' sharp-shooting in second half propels them to 62-46 win over Bulldogs

PITTSBURGH, PA. – The Bryant University women's basketball team hung in through the first half, but Robert Morris shot 65.6 percent from the floor in the second, as Bryant remains winless in the Sewall Center, following the Bulldogs' 62-46 defeat.

The Bulldogs' (9-9, 4-3 NEC) defense came out strong in the third, forcing the Colonials (9-9, 4-3) into nine turnovers in part to Bryant's four steals. After shooting under 20 percent in the first half, the Colonials' shooters came alive in the third, as the team connected on 7-of-10 from the floor, outscoring Bryant, 21-15. From the media timeout in the third, the Colonials went on a 14-8 run, including three-straight threes from Shakema Dashiell and Anna Niki Stamolamprou, as they ended the third with a 39-32 advantage.

The Bulldogs struggled offensively in the fourth, giving up the ball on six occasions, while going scoreless from the floor for six and a half minutes. RMU went on an 8-0 and 7-0 run, outscoring the Bulldogs, 23-14, in the final 10 minutes. Stamolamprou scored 18 second-half points in part to hitting 3-of-6 from behind the arc. Stamolamprou finished with a game-high 20 points, while senior Alex Klein (Waterloo, Ont.) led the Black and Gold with 16. Both were the only two players to finish in double figures.

For the third-straight contest, the Bulldogs lost the battle on the boards, as RMU outrebounded Bryant, 37-36, including 16 offensive boards. The Bulldogs finished with a season-high 29 turnovers, while the Colonials coughed it up around their average of 22 times. The hosts totaled 16 steals in the contest, while Bryant finished with seven led by freshman Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) with four.

The Black and Gold shot 28.9 percent from the field off 13-of-45, while hitting only one three that came with nine seconds to play in the game and finished 79.2 percent from the line. The Colonials shot 39.1 percent from the field after connecting on 70.0 percent in the third quarter and 61.1 percent in the fourth. The hosts went 7-for-21 from behind the arc and 5-for-5 from the line.

The Colonials started the game with harassing defense, holding the Bulldogs scoreless for nearly four minutes, until Klein scored lefty off the offensive rebound to tie the game, 2-2. The first quarter turned into a track meet, as both teams struggled from the field and to protect the ball. Bryant shot 23.1 percent from the field, while Robert Morris shot 18.8 percent. The Bulldogs scored just as many points in the first quarter as the number of times they coughed up the ball, suffering from nine turnovers, while the Colonials totaled six in the opening ten minutes of play.

RMU and Bryant fought back and forth in the second quarter, totaling three ties and two lead changes until the Colonials scored five-straight points after a Jalynn Burton-Jones three gave the hosts a 18-15 lead with 4:26 to play in the half. Two made free throws by Zegarowski pulled Bryant within one, 18-17, at the break, after the Bulldogs went scoreless for over four minutes.

The Bulldogs continue their Pa. trip, heading to Loretto, Pa. to take on Saint Francis U. on Monday at 7 p.m.