Rubenoff's Double-Double Leads Bryant to Fourth Straight Win; 56-45 over Assumption

BRYANT WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

January 9, 2007

 Bryant Women's Hoops Wins Fourth Straight 56-45 over Assumption

WORCESTER, MASS. - The Bryant University Women's Basketball team used another fast road start to notch its fourth straight win, third straight on the road, 56-45 over Assumption College Tuesday night.

Senior forward Lauren Rubenoff (New Hartford, CT) continued her dominance on the road, leading the Bulldogs with a double-double on 18 points and ten boards in 37 minutes. She entered the game averaging a team-best 16 points on the road this season.

Bryant led by 13 at the half, shooting 52% from the field, but they were forced to grind out this victory in the second frame, as they went nearly ten minutes without a field-goal, until Adrianne Mayshar (West Boylston, Mass.) sank a short jumper with 5:37 to play. The Bulldogs converted only four second-half field-goals, shooting 18% from the field, but shot 20-of-24 from the line to secure the victory.

Senior Joanna Skiba (Providence, RI) put the game away, sinking six late free throws. She finished 12 points and team-best five assists.

After surrendering the first point of the game, the Bulldogs caught fire, scoring the game's next ten points. Rubenoff scored ten of her team's first 18 points, to give Bryant an 11-point lead midway through the first half.  She finished the half with 12 points and five boards, only three less than the entire Greyhounds' team.

The Bulldogs' defense stymied the Greyhounds, limiting them to only five first-half field-goals, on 5-of-19 shooting.

After being selected as the Northeast-10 Co-Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week from January 1-7, freshman Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) spent much of the game in foul trouble. She finished with nine points and three boards, while nailing all six of her foul shots, before fouling out.

With the victory, Bryant captures the season-sweep over the Greyhounds. The Bulldogs defeated them 80-76 earlier this season in Smithfield, RI.

Bryant (10-5, 6-4 NE-10) returns to the Chace Center Thursday, seeking its fifth straight win, against Pace University at 5:30 p.m.