Scanlan leads Bryant to a 68-48 victory over FDU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Hannah Scanlan (Rumson, N.J.) led the Bryant University women's basketball team with a season-high 18 points to defeat Fairleigh Dickinson, 68-48, on Monday afternoon.

Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) added 15 points in the victory while Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ont.) pulled down a game-high of 10 rebounds.

GAME INFORMATION
Bryant 68, Fairleigh Dickinson 48
Records: Bryant 7-17 (5-8), Fairleigh Dickinson 7-17 (3-10)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

COACH BURKE COMMENTS

"I was just really proud of the players today and thought we played from beginning to end for 40 minutes," said Coach Burke. We had a great level of intensity straight out of the gate, and that starting lineup gave us a bump. I think the players collectively as a team were super focused and understood where we need to be at this time of the year. I'm really proud of how we bounced back."

KEY MOMENT

• The Bulldogs went on an 11-0 run in the third quarter to pull away to double-digit lead.
• Fairleigh Dickinson got as close as six points before getting called for a technical foul shifting all of the momentum to the Black and Gold.
• Bryant held FDU to a 13.3 field goal percentage shooting just two-of-15 in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs outscored the Knights, 15-8, to close out the game.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bryant led by just one-point early in the first quarter before Zegarowski bookended an 11-0 run with a pair of three-pointers to end the quarter, 20-8.
• The Bulldogs forced the Knights to a 26.7 percent shooting percentage shooting just four-of-15 from the field in the first quarter.
• At the 7:26 mark in the second quarter, Julia Kelner (Fayetteville, N.Y.) sealed off two FDU defenders to give Ashley a clear lane to the basket to put the Bulldogs up 15, 26-11.
• The Knights got as close as 10 points in the second quarter before the Bulldogs ended the half, 36-25.
• Fairleigh Dickinson started the second half with a three-point and-1 play that fueled a 7-2 run to get within six, 38-32.
• With 1:43 to go in the third quarter, FDU's Madison Stanley was called for a technical foul giving Bryant the momentum as Zegarowski ended the quarter sinking her third three of the game to put Bryant up 13, 53-40.
• Bryant remained relentless kicking off the fourth quarter with a 55-second possession. The Bulldogs pulled down two offensive rebounds to maintain the possession highlighted by Ashley diving into the stands to save the ball before Trinity Bravo (Bridgeport, Conn.) found Scanlan under the basket for two points.
• The Knights would go on to make just two field goals in the fourth quarter shooting 13.3 percent. Bryant took advantage going on a 9-2 run pulling away to a 20-point advantage.  

STATS

• Scanlan led with 18 points shooting eight-of-14. Scanlan pulled down seven rebounds and dished out three assists.
• Zegarowski added 15 points shooting three-of-five from beyond the arc.
• Ashley led on the glass with 10 rebounds and was just two points shy of a double-double. Ashley also swiped a team-high three steals.
• Three Bulldogs tallied eight points including Taty LaFrance Boyce (Norwich, Conn.), Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W.Va.), and Ashley.
• LaFrance Boyce dished out a game-high of 4 assists.
• Bryant outrebounded the Knights, 43-35, with 14 offensive rebounds.

GAME NOTES

• Scanlan's 18 points marked a season-high.
• Today marks the first 20-point win for the Black and Gold this season. The last time Bryant posted a 20+ point win was in 2016 against Fairleigh Dickinson, 74-52.
• Meagan Bianchi (Brooklyn, Conn.) posted her first career start at the beginning of today's game.
• LaFrance Boyce's four assists is a career-best.
• Coach Burke is now just three wins away from 400.  

UP NEXT
Bryant hosts Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, February 23 for a 1 p.m. showdown.