Bulldogs fight hard but can't rally in the fourth, lose to Red Flash, 79-67,

LORETTO, PA. – Despite two 7-0 runs in the fourth quarter, the Bryant University women's basketball team couldn't stop Saint Francis U.'s offensive attack, as the Red Flash maintained the strong lead they built in the second quarter, winning, 79-67, on Monday night in Loretto.

The Red Flash (10-9, 7-1) found their first lead over the Bulldogs (9-10, 4-4 NEC) in the second period and built confidence, heading into a 15-0 run that gave the home team a 12-point edge, 37-25, before the half. Despite Bryant's late-game runs, the Red Flash continued their rebuttal on offense, preventing the Bulldogs from cutting it closer than within five in the final period, as Saint Francis U. came out on top, 79-67.

Three Bulldogs finished in double figures, as senior Alex Klein (Waterloo, Ont.) totaled her fifth double-double of the season off a game high 24 points and 13 rebounds. Klein went 8-for-18 from the floor and 8-for-9 from the line. Freshman Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) notched 13 points, while junior Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ont.) earned her fifth double figure scoring game off 10.

Senior Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) ripped down a season-high 12 boards, as Bryant snapped its three-game losing streak on the glass, winning the battle, 52-37, including 17 offensive rebounds. The Bulldogs with over 20 turnovers for the 13th time this season, totaling 24 in the contest to Saint Francis U.'s 15.

The Bulldogs shot 34.7 percent from the field, 16.7 percent from three and 83.3 percent from behind the arc. The Red Flash finished with a 41.7 percent mark from the floor, 26.7 percent tally from three and 73.3 percent from the stripe.

Bulldogs opened the first on an 8-0 run, holding the Red Flash scoreless until the 6:49 mark. Saint Francis U.'s three-point shooting helped the hosts back into the game, as they hit three in the opening ten minutes, as they trailed, 15-13, at the end of the first.

After the Black and Gold led for 11:17, the Red Flash took a one-point advantage, after the NEC's leading scorer Jessica Kovatch found Courtney Zezza for the easy layup in the second quarter. Kovatch did not score until 2:43 to play in the second off a backdoor lay-in, but the sophomore's layup was part of SFU's 15-0 run that gave the Red Flash a 37-23 edge. The host's scoring frenzy included three-straight threes, including one from Kovatch, as she started to heat up, before finishing the game with a team-high 22 points. The run also included four turnovers by the Bulldogs that were converted into 10 Red Flash points. The Bulldogs finished with 13 giveaways to SFU's three in the first half.

After the two teams traded two field goals apiece, Klein scored four-straight points, finishing a layup in stride off a pass from sophomore Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) and two free throws. Although not the most productive run offensively, defensively the Bulldogs held the Red Flash scoreless for 4:20, as the Black and Gold pulled within six, 45-39, with 6:02 to play in the third. A Kovatch three ended the run and ignited the Red Flash on a 13-4 run of their own to close out the third quarter with a 56-45 advantage.

In the fourth, the Bulldogs and Red Flash exchanged small runs, until Bryant earned a 7-0 run over a two-minute span to pull within six, 64-58. The Bulldogs run included back-to-back layups with nifty assists from Ashley and a made free throw by Zegarowski, as she moved to double figures. Saint Francis U. responded with a 6-0 run of their own, but it was short lived as Bryant fought back within five, following another 7-0 run with 1:56 to play. In game of runs, Saint Francis U. found the final 7-0 scoring stretch that helped solidify its 79-67 victory.

The Bulldogs gear up for another battle at the top of the standings, as they face Central Connecticut on the road on Saturday at 1 p.m.