WOMEN GET BACK TO WINNING WITH 65-49 VICTORY OVER LE MOYNE SATURDAY AFTERNOON; SNAP FOUR-GAME LOSING SKID
January 19, 2008
WOMEN GET BACK TO WINNING WITH 65-49 VICTORY OVER LE MOYNE SATURDAY AFTERNOON; SNAP FOUR-GAME LOSING SKID
SYRACUSE, NY - The Bryant University women's basketball team shot 22-for-27 from the free throw line and outrebounded Le Moyne College, 44-29, to cruise to a 65-49 victory over the Dolphins Saturday afternoon at Grant Court. The win saw the Bulldogs snap out of their four-game losing funk dating back to Dec. 5.
The Bulldogs (12-6, 7-6 Northeast-10) got off to their best start since early December, racing out to an 11-2 lead through the first six-and-a-half minutes on the back of smart shooting and, more importantly, a tough defensive effort.
Two big blocks from freshman starter Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, NY) right out of the gates kept Le Moyne's (8-9, 5-8) tally at just a single basket until the 13:03 mark of the opening frame when a Kathleen Gladstone jumper cut the Bulldogs' lead to 11-4.
Senior captain Lynne-Ann Kokoski (Hatfield, Mass.) upped the score to 16-7 with a three-point play with 9:22 on the clock, drawing a whistle and making good on the basket and the extra point.
Bryant held the Dolphins to single-digits through the first 15 minutes of play and in the waning minutes made the score 27-15 with a big 3-pointer from Kristin Mraz (Johnstown, NY) with 2:10 left to play in the half. Kokoksi worked hard driving the lane inside but kicked the ball out to the Bulldog sophomore and Mraz buried the trey.
The Bulldogs entered the intermission with a commanding 31-19 lead - the team's first halftime lead in four games - with Kokoski and Mraz leading the way at seven points apiece. Bryant was a perfect 7-for-7 from the charity stripe, outrebounding Le Moyne, 20-16.
The Bulldogs came out slow in the first five minutes of the second frame, but picked it up around the 7-minute mark when a runner from Courtney Schermerhorn (Lowell, Mass.) fell in to up Bryant's lead to 42-27.
A pretty spin move on the post by Bennett followed by four-straight made free throws gave the away team the 52-29 advantage with 8:35 to go. A trey and a basket from Jacquelin Precious would bring the Dolphins closer, 56-41, with just over four minutes to play, but it wouldn't be nearly enough as the Bulldogs put an end to their four-game losing streak, 65-49.
Mraz's 14 points were a game-high, while three other Bulldogs registered double-digit scoring of their own. Le Moyne was led by Courtney Coryea's 13 points.
The Bulldogs stay on the road for their next contest, a January 26 bout with UMass Lowell. Bryant is 1-0 against the River Hawks this season, beating them, 71-37, at the Chace Athletic Center on Dec. 1. Tipoff is 2:00 p.m.