Gallagher scores career-high in Bryant's loss at Vermont

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont gave the Bryant University women's basketball team its first road loss of the season, 71-66, on Sunday afternoon in Burlington.

Bryant posted three double-digit scorers led by freshman Nicole Gallagher (Foxboro, Mass.) with 21 points. Senior Taty LaFrance Boyce (Norwich, Conn.) notched 14 followed by junior Brooke Bjelko (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) with 13. Bejlko's 13 points was paired with 12 rebounds to give the junior her first double-double of the season.  

GAME INFORMATION
Vermont 71, Bryant 61
Records: Bryant (1-2), Vermont (1-3)
Location: Patrick Gymnasium (Burlington, Vt.)

KEY MOMENT

• Vermont's 10-0 run in the first quarter off 10-of-19 from the field and five-of-10 from three put Bryant on its heels as they fought an up-hill battle for the remainder of the first half.
• With four minutes to go in the third quarter, Gallagher knocked down a big three for the Black and Gold giving them their first lead since the first quarter. The Bulldogs held onto their one-point advantage going into the fourth quarter.
• Josie Larkins five-for-six shooting from behind the arc put the nail in the coffin for Vermont as they pulled away for the remainder of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bryant responded to Vermont's opening three with a 6-0 run to start the game. Bejlko kickstarted the run with a short jumper outside the paint followed by a pair at the charity stripe, 6-3.
• The two teams battled on the offensive end as the score bounced back and forth with six lead changes in the first quarter.
• At the 3:37 mark, Vermont played out the first quarter with a 10-0 run to gain the advantage, 25-14, at the end of the first 10 minutes of play.
• Bjelko pulled down an offensive rebound and dumped it off to Trinity Bravo (Bridgeport, Conn.) on the block to kickstart an 11-0 run at the 8:50 mark. LaFrance Boyce led the run with seven points as the Bulldogs began to chip away at the Catamounts lead, 27-25.
• LaFrance Boyce fueled Bryant's comeback in the second quarter dropping 12 points off 5-of-6 shooting in the second frame alone.
• Vermont refused to let up and held a 10-point lead with 2:49 to go until the half. However, the relentless Bulldogs went on a 9-0 run to end the first half, 37-35, in Vermont's favor.
• Bryant was down 44-37 with six minutes to go in the third quarter before Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W.Va.) and Gallagher each notched back-to-back and-one plays to put the Bulldogs within one, 44-43.
• At the four-minute mark, Gallagher knocked down a three off the dribble to give Bryant its first advantage since the first quarter. The Bulldogs held onto their one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, 52-51.
• Vermont opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back threes from Larkins forcing coach Burke to take a timeout as the Catamounts took the lead, 57-52.
• The Bulldogs came within four with 1:45 left on the clock, but Larkins responded with her eighth three of the night to give the Catamounts enough to seal the game.

STATS

• Gallagher led the Black and Gold with a career-high 21 points off 9-for-15 shooting and one at the stripe. The rookie point guard ended the game with four rebounds, five assists, and a steal.
• LaFrance Boyce trailed Gallagher as the second-leading scorer dropping 14 points with 12 coming from the second quarter alone. LaFrance Boyce was 6-for-11 from the field and pulled down four rebounds and dished out one assist. The senior also led the team in steals with three.
• Bjelko tallied her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds and was Bryant's second leader in assists with four.
• Holloway put up nine points and led the team with 15 rebounds.
• Bryant was outshot from the field, 47.3%-37.0%, and from beyond the arc, 52.4%-23.8%.
• The Bulldogs outrebounded Vermont, 45-33, as the Black and Gold have yet to be outrebounded so far this season. Bryant pulled down 23 offensive rebounds led by Holloway with 10, which contributed to Bryant's 18 second-chance points.
• Today's game saw eight different lead changes and four even score moments.

GAME NOTES

• Gallagher's 20+ point game marked a career-best.
• LaFrance Boyce and Bjelko each tallied season-highs in scoring while Holloway's 15 rebounds also marked a season-best.
• As a team, Bryant showed its best three-point shooting performance shooting 5-for-21 from beyond the arc.
• Vermont's 33 rebounds marked the least amount of rebounds allowed against an opponent so far this season.
• Tonight's loss marks Vermont's first victory over the Bulldogs. Bryant remains as the all-time series leader, 4-1.
• The Bulldogs are 0-2 against America East opponents so far this season.

UP NEXT: HOLY CROSS
The Bulldogs continue its four-game road stretch with a short trip over the Massachusetts border to Holy Cross on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m. in Worcester.