BULLDOGS DROP OPENING GAME OF NEC RIVALRY WEEK, FALL TO CENTRAL CONNECTICUT, 78-70, SATURDAY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Facing a 16-point deficit late in the first half and career numbers from Justina Udenze, the Bryant University women's basketball team stormed back to within two after halftime but it would not be enough as the Bulldogs fell to Central Connecticut, 78-70, in the opening contest of the Northeast Conference's rivalry week Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

Down by ten at the half, the perimeter shooting of sophomores Katie Whittington (Twinsburg, Ohio), Danielle Douglas (Silver Spring, Md.) and Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) brought the Blue Devil advantage down to 40-38 just 3:26 into the second stanza but the Bulldogs could not get past the two-point deficit, falling to the conference rival in a physical matchup.    

Udenze led Central Connecticut (14-9, 7-6 NEC) with a career-high 29 points on 10-for-11 shooting from the floor while Leanne Crockett netted 21 points and 14 rebounds for the double-double.

Bryant (8-16, 5-8 NEC) was paced offensively by Douglas who scored 16 points including 3-for-3 from long distance while Whittington and Soper rounded out the double-figure efforts with 14 and 11, respectively. Five players drained at least one 3-pointer for the home squad as the team shot 56.3 percent from beyond the arc.   

The Bulldogs came out looking to shoot as Soper opened with a jumper from the corner, followed by a deep trey from Whittington for the early home advantage. The Blue Devils answered with an 11-0 run, highlighted by four straight baskets from Udenze to put the visitors on top, 13-5, at the 15:10 mark.

Freshman Krista Ferrentino (East Longmeadow, Mass.) silenced the Blue Devil stretch with two quick baskets down low but Central Connecticut responded with another 11-0 run, pushing the lead to 24-9 with 8:45 remaining. The visiting squad continued to give the ball to Udenze underneath but the Bulldogs made a late push as treys from Mary Kate Tierney (Rochester, N.Y.) and Whittington headlined an 8-2 run, trimming Central's lead to 35-25 at halftime.

Udenze paced the Blue Devils with a season-high 19 points in the opening 20 minutes while the team shot 46.4 percent from the floor. Whittington led the home lineup with seven points.

Bryant returned from intermission with strong perimeter shooting, slowly chipping away at Central's lead until back-to-back trifectas by Douglas and Soper brought the home side within two, 40-38, at the 16:34 mark.

While the Blue Devils began to heat up beyond the arc to maintain a slim lead, the home side refused to go away in the physical contest as Ferrentino took advantage of a flagrant foul call, sinking both free throws to trim the lead down to 65-62 with 4:21 remaining. Despite the late effort, including a pair of driving lay-ups by Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.), the Bulldogs could not keep the Blue Devils quiet on the offensive end as the visitors went on to win, 78-70.    

The Black and Gold look to bounce back on Monday, Feb. 14 in the second half of NEC rivalry week as they head to New Britain, Conn. to take on Central Connecticut at 7:00 p.m.