Bryant takes down FDU for first conference win

HACKENSACK, N.J. – Sophomore Trinity Bravo (Bridgeport, Conn.) fueled the Bryant University women's basketball team to its first Northeast Conference victory of the season over Fairleigh Dickinson by netting a career-best 14 points. The Bulldogs edged out the Knights, 57-45, in The Garden State.

Bravo was one of three Bulldogs to notch double-figures as senior Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W.Va.) added a double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds, followed by freshman Nicole Gallagher (Foxboro, Mass.) with 10 points.  

GAME INFORMATION
Bryant 57, Fairleigh Dickinson 45
Records: Bryant (3-10, 1-1), Fairleigh Dickinson (4-9, 1-1)
Location: Rothman Center (Hackensack, N.J.)

KEY MOMENT

• Bryant held onto its lead despite FDU's 8-2 run to come within two at the end of the first half, 25-23.
• Fairleigh Dickinson took the lead in the third quarter with an 8-2 run before a six-minute scoring-drought. The Bulldogs ended the drought when Bravo's transition three put the Black and Gold within one, 31-30, at the end of the third quarter.
• Bryant started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run to give the Bulldogs the advantage that they would not let up for the remainder of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bulldogs won the tip to start the game and gain the first possession. Bryant whipped the ball around the arc before finding Taty LaFrance Boyce (Norwich, Conn.) in the short corner for the first basket of the game.
• Neither team was able to establish any runs as they went basket-for-basket for the majority of the first quarter as Fairleigh Dickinson evened the score at nine-all with 3:36 left to play.
• With under one minute to go in the first frame, Kandis Taylor (Sunrise, Fla.) pushed the ball in transition and got the ball to Gallagher for a three to give Bryant a three-point lead before the end of the quarter, 12-9.
• Bryant came into the second quarter on a 7-2 run led by Bravo with a pair of strong drives to the hoop. The second-quarter burst gave the Bulldogs its biggest lead of the first half, 22-14.   
• The Knights got a layup to fall just before the buzzer to extend their 8-2 run and come within two, 25-23, at the half.
• Fairleigh Dickinson netted five of its 14 second-quarter points from the stripe off eight attempts. The Knights sank just four field goals in the second frame off four-of-12 shooting.
• FDU started the second half hot on another 8-2 run to take the lead, 31-27, with six minutes to go in the third, but both teams remained scoreless until Bravo trailed for a three from the top of the key to end the quarter chasing one, 31-30.
• Both teams posted its lowest field goal percentage of the game as Bryant tallied 15.4 percent off two-of-13 shooting, and FDU went three-for-13 for a 23.1 field goal percentage.
• The Bulldogs wasted no time in the fourth quarter when Holloway passed the ball out to Gallagher for a three to kickstart a 6-0 run and regain the lead, 36-31.
• Bryant refused to relinquish its lead despite the Knights cutting the score to one at the 6:48 mark. Holloway immediately responded with a hard and-one play at the basket followed by a layup from Taylor, 41-35.
• FDU would get one more from behind the arc before the Bulldogs took off on a 7-0 run to grow a 10-point cushion, 48-38.
• Bryant's next 14 points would come from the free-throw line as the Bulldogs went 16-of-18 from the stripe in the fourth quarter alone.
• Gallagher hit a pair from the foul line with just 15 seconds remaining to ice the game, 57-45.   

STATS

• Holloway finished the game with a double-double off 11 points and 12 rebounds, leading the Bulldogs on the glass.
• Bravo posted a game-high 14 points off five-of-nine shooting and three-of-four from the stripe. The sophomore forward also led the team with three steals.
• Gallagher also posted double-figures with ten points and four coming from the foul line.
• Both Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) and Holloway tallied three assists.
• The Bulldogs outrebounds the Knights, 42-34.
• Bryant shot 37.8 percent for the game off 17-of-45 shooting and finished the game 18-for-28 from the charity stripe.

GAME NOTES

• Both Taylor and Bravo notched career-highs in scoring. Bravo posted 14 points while Taylor netted seven with a career-best five-of-six from the free-throw line.
• Holloway's double-double is the third of the season and 39^th of her career. Her last double-double performance came at Minnesota in November with 10 points, 12 rebounds.
• The Bulldogs are now 15-6 all-time against FDU and lead 7-4 in the Rothman Center.

UP NEXT: Merrimack
Bryant remains on the road as they visit the newest NEC member Merrimack on Wednesday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.