Perkins leads Bulldogs in 87-75 loss at Holy Cross

WORCESTER, Mass. – Freshman Alana Perkins (Wauwatosa, Wis.) dropped a career-high 21 points off seven-of-11 shooting, but the Bryant University women's basketball team was overmatched by Holy Cross, 75-87, on Wednesday night. 

Freshman Nicole Gallagher (Foxboro, Mass.) and senior Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W.Va.) also tallied double-figure scoring with 17 apiece. Holloway pulled down a team-high nine rebounds while Gallagher dished out four assists in the non-conference setback. 

GAME INFORMATION
Holy Cross 87, Bryant 75
Records: Bryant (1-3), Holy Cross (2-1)
Location: Hart Center (Worcester, Mass.)

KEY MOMENT

• Bryant started chipping away at Holy Cross's lead thanks to the offensive spurt from Perkins in the second quarter. The rookie's four three-pointers helped put the Bulldogs within four at the end of the first half. 
• Holy Cross started to run away with the lead in the third quarter as they dropped 30 points in the third frame alone. The Crusaders went on an 11-4 run before the end of the quarter for a 23-point cushion they helped them coast to the final buzzer. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Crusaders won the tip and passed it ahead Avery LaBarbera who was alone at the block fueling a 9-0 run. A media timeout at the eight-minute mark helped Bryant find an offensive flow and end Holy Cross's run as Gallagher knocked down a three on the wing to put the Bulldogs on the board.
• The Bulldogs were able to get plenty of shots off in the first frame but were unable to convert as they shot 30 percent from the field and 10 percent from beyond the arc.
• Three minutes into the second quarter, Perkins checked in for the Black and Gold and immediately sank a three to kickstart Bryant's offense. Perkins went on to score 14 in the second quarter alone off a perfect five-for-five from the field including four from three.
• Neither team was able to establish any significant runs as they both went basket-for-basket for the majority of the second quarter. However, thanks to a three from Gallagher, the Bulldogs ended the half chasing four, 43-39.
• The Crusaders started the second half on a 7-2 run and pulled away to a 12-point lead with a pull-up three before a media timeout, 58-46.
• The Bulldogs struggled to put the ball in the basket coming out of the timeout helping Holy Cross to an 11-4 run, as they grew to a 23-point lead, 73-50. Holy Cross outscored the Bulldogs, 30-11, shooting 76.9 percent from the floor in the third quarter.
• With seven minutes to go in the game, Taty LaFrance Boyce (Norwich, Conn.) grabbed an offensive rebound and swung the ball to Gallagher for three. The Crusaders answered back with a layup, but Gallagher pulled up again to put the Black and Gold within 20.
• Coming out of the final media timeout of the game, the Bulldogs chipped away to get within 12 with 1:12 to go. But with the clock against Bryant, the Bulldogs were unable to crack the double-digit deficit.

STATS

• Perkins led with 21 points off seven-of-11 shooting and six-of-eight from beyond the arc.
• Gallagher and Holloway trailed with 17 tallying six field goals apiece.
• Brooke Bjelko (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) and LaFrance Boyce each contributed eight apiece, and Trinity Bravo (Bridgeport, Conn.) added four.
• Despite not scoring, Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) led the Bulldogs with three steals.
• LaFrance Boyce dished out five assists followed by Gallagher with four.
• Holloway led with nine rebounds, but the Bulldogs were outrebounded 34-26.
• Holy Cross scored 19 points from the stripe shooting 19-for-27.
• Bryant shot 40 percent, 29-71, from the field while the Crusaders tallied 63.3 percent off 31-for-49 shooting.  

GAME NOTES

• Perkins tallied a career-high in scoring.
• Holloway's 17 points mark a season-high as the senior is just 20 points away from breaking the Division I scoring record. Breanna Rucker '16 currently holds the record at 1,395.
• The Bulldogs have posted three double-digit scorers in every game so far this season. 
• The last time the Bulldogs were outrebounded was last season on Feb. 16 against Sacred Heart, 39-37.
• Tonight's game marked the highest-scoring contest between both teams so far this season.
• Bryant attempted 70+ field goals for the second game in a row.   

UP NEXT: ILLINOIS
Bryant treks to Illinois for a Sunday matinee on Nov. 24 at 2 p.m. for its third-straight road contest.