Bryant outlasts Wagner for series split

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team bounced back to even the series at Wagner, 49-43. 

Despite only sinking 12 field goals, Bryant posted the bulk of its points from the foul line shooting a season-best 20-of-30. Senior Brooke Bjelko led the Black and Gold from the foul line shooting nine-of-10 for a total of 11 points for the night. Bjelko also added a game-high 12 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season. But it was sophomore Nicole Gallagher who led Bryant's offense with her second-straight 13-point performance after dropping 13 in game one against the Seahawks. 

THE PARTICULARS
Bryant 49, Wagner 43
Records: Bryant (7-10, 5-8) | Wagner (8-5, 8-4)
Location: Spiro Sports Center (Staten Island, N.Y.)

KEY MOMENT

•  A Gallagher three kickstarted a 10-0 run to start the second quarter. The run helped Bryant grow to a convincing double-digit lead that they would not surrender. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Wagner started the game on a 9-2 run and held Bryant without a field goal until three minutes left in the first quarter. But once Gallagher hit that first FG the Bulldogs took off on a 9-0 run to take the lead. Wagner went on to hit two free throws before the end of the quarter to tie it up at 11 all.
• The Bulldogs began to separate themselves from the Seahawks in the second frame. Gallagher found Bjelko in the paint which sparked a 10-0 run. The run helped Bryant grow to its first double-digit lead of the day, 21-11.
• No real runs were made by either team in the third quarter, but a pair of Bjelko free throws grew the Black and Gold to their biggest lead of the night, 37-24.
• The Seahawks did not allow Bryant to net a single field goal in the fourth quarter as all 12 points came from the stripe for the Bulldogs.

STATS

• Gallagher led with her second-straight 13-point performance. She also added five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.
• Bjelko posted 11 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. She finished the game with three assists, two steals, and a pair of blocks.
• Senior Kandis Taylor tallied nine points with five coming from the foul line. Taylor also led with a team-high four steals.
• Fatou Jallow contributed seven points, two rebounds, and two steals.
• Alana Perkins shot two-of-five from the field tonight for a total of five points. She matched with five rebounds.
• Redshirt freshman Shannon O'Connor posted four points, six rebounds, and two steals.
• Bryant shot 30.8% from the field (12-39) with the bulk of its points coming from the foul line shooting 20-of-30.
• The Bulldogs outrebounded Wagner, 40-37.

GAME NOTES

• Bjelko's double-double count is at seven so far this year and 12 for her career.
• Bryant's 20-for-30 mark from the stripe is a season-best. The last time Bryant hit 20 free throws was last February against Fairleigh Dickinson when the Bulldogs shot 20-of-25 from the stripe.
• This is the fifth time this season that the Bulldogs scored under 50 points but the first of this season where both teams scored under the 50 mark. 

UP NEXT
Bryant remains in the Empire State and will meet with LIU on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. on NEC Front Row.