BULLDOGS DOWNED BY BLACK BEARS, 74-66, FRIDAY NIGHT IN HOME-OPENER

Nov. 19, 2010

BULLDOGS DOWNED BY BLACK BEARS, 74-66, FRIDAY NIGHT IN HOME-OPENER

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) set a career-high with 17 rebounds and scored 22 points but the Bryant University women's basketball team could not hold off a late second half surge by Maine as the Bulldogs fell, 74-66, Friday night in the 2010-11 home-opener at the Chace Athletic Center.   

With 22 points, Bennett just missed her career high of 23 points while Maine was led by Amber Smith's 22 points in 31 minutes of game action. Freshman Steph Cardamone (Freehold, N.J.) also added a career-high 12 points off the bench for the Bulldogs.

Siamone Bennett had a career-high 17 rebounds against Maine

The Bulldogs wasted no time in getting on the board as sophomore Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) gained control of the opening tip and raced down the floor for a quick layup. From there, the home team looked down low for Bennett, who was able to draw a pair of early fouls and drain the subsequent free throws for the early advantage.

The Black Bears hung tough with baskets from Brittany Williams and Samantha Wheeler but Bryant held the slim lead thanks to four-consecutive scores, highlighted by a Lindsey Hudspeth (Mount Laurel, N.J.) jumper in between driving layups from sophomore Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) and Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.).

With 13 minutes remaining in the first half, the Black bears picked up the lead for the first time in the game on a 12-footer from Katelyn Vanderhoof, but the Bulldogs answered right back on the next possession when Bennett gained position under the basket and turned around for the easy lay-in.

With the lead recovered, the home squad began to heat up when Cardamone scored seven points over the next four minutes, capped off by a three-pointer. On the next play, Hudspeth stepped back and drilled a shot from beyond the arc to put the Bulldogs up, 26-16 with just over eight minutes to play in the half.

A few minutes later, Cardamone kept her hot hand going strong as she kissed a three-pointer off the glass for her fourth-straight made field goal in as many attempts.

Working across the roster and from all areas of the court, Bryant worked the post as well, going to Brittany Stahura (Amsterdam, N.Y.) underneath and Bailey for sharp, slicing drives through the defense.

In the final two minutes of the half, Maine managed to trim the lead when Smith hit a short jumper but the final minute belonged to Bennett, who wrestled her way for position in the post for two baskets, giving Bryant a 40-31 lead at the break.

Bennett already had a double-double at halftime with 13 points and 12 boards while Cardamone chipped in with 10 points. Samantha Wheeler led the Black Bears with 11 first half points.

The Bulldogs started the second half looking to improve on their lead and the ball remained in the hands of Bennett who scored a quick four points.

Slowly but surely, however, Maine chipped away at the Bulldog lead and after a pair of impressive shots by Smith, the score was all knotted up at 50 apiece with just over ten minutes left in the game.

Up by one with eight minutes to play, Soper dribbled around a Black Bear defender, gained isolation, and hit a two-pointer for the three-point lead, but Maine came right back with a conventional three-point play by Ashleigh Roberts after drawing the foul.

Maine then took the lead on the next play with a basket from Vanderhoff to put the visitors on top, 60-58, for their first lead of the second half.

The back-and-forth action continued in the final five minutes when the Bulldogs once again captured the lead on a Soper trey and a driving lay-in by Douglas.

The Bulldog lead did not last long, however, as Brittany Williams was able to fight her way through the lane for back-to-back trips to the foul line. With a minute left to play, Vanderhoff knocked down a two-pointer to ice the game as the Black Bears converted the necessary free throws for the 74-66 win.

The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 23 when they travel to Brown at 7 p.m.