BULLDOGS PICK UP FIRST WIN OF 2010-11 SEASON, TAKE DOWN HOST AIR FORCE, 79-74, IN FIRST GAME OF AIR FORCE CLASSIC FRIDAY NIGHT

Dec. 3, 2010

BULLDOGS PICK UP FIRST WIN OF 2010-11 SEASON, TAKE DOWN HOST AIR FORCE, 79-74, IN FIRST GAME OF AIR FORCE CLASSIC FRIDAY NIGHT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Sophomore Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) scored a team-high 16 points and freshman Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) netted back-to-back clutch three-point plays at the end of the game to lift the Bryant University women's basketball team past Air Force, 79-74, Friday night in the opening contest of the Air Force Classic at Clune Arena.

The turning point for the Bulldogs came with 3:00 remaining when freshman Krista

Ferrentino (Longmeadow, Mass.) broke the tie game with a putback layup after coming up with an offensive rebound. Over the next two Bryant possessions, Bailey stormed through the lane and broke the Falcon defense, drawing fouls on both converted layups for six unanswered points as the Bulldogs would hold on for their first win of the 2010-11 season.     

Freshman Jenniqua Bailey scored seven points in the final three minutes to help Bryant down Air Force Friday night

Douglas' 16 points matched her career-high while seniors Lindsey Hudspeth (Mount Laurel, N.J.) and Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) also scored in double-digits with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Bailey scored 12 points, including seven in the last three minutes, and also added 4 assists. As a team, the Bulldogs shot a remarkable 55 percent from the floor. Senior Raimee Beck led all scorers with 24 points for Air Force.   

The Bulldogs were quick to score out of the gate as Katie Whittington (Twinsburgh, Ohio) drained an early 3-pointer but the Falcons came right back with 10 unanswered points including a pair of treys from Raimee Beck.

The Black and Gold were able to climb back from the deficit, however, going to Douglas for a couple of short jumpers and Whittington for another deep 3-pointer to tie it up, 15-15. Moments later, Hudspeth hit a trey of her own to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game with 12 minutes to play in the first half.

From there, the Bulldogs turned to the combination of Hudspeth and sophomore Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) as the duo scored the next 12 points for the Bulldogs, giving the visitors a 30-24 advantage at the seven minute mark.    

Led by Katie Hilbig, a strong run by the Falcons to close out the half put the home team back in the game as the lineups went into the lockers rooms tied up, 37-37.

Hudspeth led all scorers with 13 points in the opening stanza, shooing a perfect 5-for-5 from the field including 3-for-3 from 3-point range. As a team, the Bulldogs went 53 percent from the floor while the Falcons were equally impressive in the first half, shooting 54 percent.

Both teams entered the second half right where they left off in the first but each side went about the scoring in different ways as Beck led the Falcons by means of free throws while the Bulldogs went to Douglas and Whittington for quick jumpers as well as to Bennett down low.

Down by three with just over seven minutes to play, Ferrentino drew a pair of fouls and hit three free throws to tie the score, 55-55. Over the next two possessions, the Bulldogs continued to get to the line as Douglas and Bennett drew fouls on the defensive end and hit all four free throws. On the next play, Douglas stopped at the top of the key and drained a jumper to put the Bulldogs up, 61-55, with six minutes to play.   

Bailey added to the Bulldog lead with a couple more free throws, but the Falcons did not go down quietly as Beck was fouled on a 3-pointer and hit the free shot for the 4-point play. After Bailey came right back with a driving layup, Air Force scored back-to-back treys for the 65-65 tie game.

With the game tied and following a Bryant missed shot, Ferrentino muscled her way for the offensive board and scored the putback for the two point lead. Bailey took over from there as the freshman drove to the basket for back-to-back three-point plays, giving the Bulldogs an eight point advantage. Despite a few late Air Force baskets, the Bulldogs hit their necessary free throws for the 79-74 victory to pick up their first win of the season.

The Black and Gold return to Clune Arena tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. when they face Weber St. in the second game of the two-day Air Force Classic.