Mancini and Fortuny shine in season opening win against Dartmouth

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team defeated Dartmouth 70-52 in Head Coach Lynne-Ann Kokoski's coaching debut at home.

Mia Mancini and Mariona Planes Fortuny both tallied 20 points in the victory.

Freshman Martina Boba had 15 points, and fellow classmate Nia Scott hauled in 10 boards.

Game Information
Bryant 70, Dartmouth 52
Records: Bryant 1-0 (0-0), Dartmouth 0-1 (0-0)
Location:  Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

Key Moment

• The Black and Gold went on an 11-3 run to blow the game open in the beginning of the second half.

How it Happened

• The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair as the Black and Gold earned a slight 20-18 edge. Mancini led the way with nine points in the quarter off of two three-pointers and three free throws. She was joined by Fortuny and Boba, who tallied five and four.
• Boba began the second quarter by drilling a three (23-18); this was followed by a 6-4 run by the Bulldogs, resulting in a 29-22 lead at the media timeout.
• The final five minutes of the half were closely contested as the Big Green outscored Bryant 10-9, making the halftime score 38-32 in favor of the Black and Gold.
• The Bulldogs came out on fire in the first five minutes of the half, outdueling the Big Green 11-3. Kemari Reynolds, Fortuny, Boba, and Nia Scott had two each, and Mancini made her fourth three-pointer of the game (49-35).
• Both teams tallied five points, giving Bryant a 16-point lead heading into the fourth (54-40).
• The Bulldogs outscored Dartmouth 16-12, behind three-pointers from Boba and Mancini and a dominant eight-point fourth quarter from Fortuny, resulting in a 70-52 victory for Bryant.

Stats

• Mancini scored 20 points, going 5-10 from deep; she also had three assists.
• Fortuny posted 20 points, going 10-14 from the field and posting five boards.
• Boba had 15 points, going 6-10 from the floor and 2-4 beyond the arc.
• Scott came down with ten boards.
• The Bulldogs shot 46% from the field and 38% from three.
• Bryant forced 15 TOs and committed eight.

Notes

• Coach Kokoski earned her first win as a head coach in her coaching debut.
• Mancini's 20 points are the most by a true freshman in DI program history.
• This is Fortuny's 12^th 20-point game in her career.
• This is the Bulldog's second consecutive season-opening victory against Dartmouth.

  Next Up

The Black and Gold will head on the road to face Seton Hall on Sunday.