Bobcats oust Bulldogs on Senior Night

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite three players in double-figures, the Bryant University women's basketball team could not salvage a season split against Quinnipiac as the Bulldogs fell in the Northeast Conference matchup, 81-67, on senior day Monday night at the Chace Athletic Center.   

Bryant (8-19, 5-11 NEC) was led offensively by sophomore Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) with 16 points including a trio of 3-pointers while freshman Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.) added a career-high 14 and senior Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) chipped in with 11 and seven rebounds. Freshman Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ontario) contributed with seven points and 11 boards.

Quinnipiac (13-14, 10-6 NEC) had five players reach double-figures as Felicia Barron scored a game-high 21 points while Kari Goodchild and Courtney Kaminski netted 16 apiece.        

The teams opened the contest with even play during the first seven minutes with Quinnipiac holding a slight edge until back-to-back baskets by Barron kicked off a 10-0 run to put the visitors on top, 23-11, at the 11:30 mark. From there, the Bulldogs slowly climbed back into the game as a 3-point play from Schissler trimmed the lead to four, 28-24, with 7:51 remaining. Bryant tied up the score at 30-30 on a pair of free throws from Ankoma-Mensa, capping a 6-0 run by the home side at the 4:50 mark, but the Bobcats took back the lead for a 43-36 advantage at halftime.

Schissler paced the Bulldogs with 11 points on 3-for-4 shooting in the opening 20 minutes while Barron led the Bobcats with 15 including a pair of 3-pointers.   

Quinnipiac started the second stanza with a 7-0 run, including six straight points from Kaminski for the 14-point lead. Soper ended the stretch with a jumper to kick off a 6-0 run and bring the Bulldogs within eight, 50-42, with 16:27 left to play. Lindsey Hudspeth (Mount Laurel, N.J.) nailed a 3-pointer at the 12:26 mark to keep the Bulldogs within eight but the visitors answered with five straight points to increase the lead to 61-48 with 8:45 remaining.

The home side was able to put together a 6-0 run late in the half, highlighted by back-to-back post baskets down low by Krista Ferrentino (East Longmeadow, Mass.), but they could not bring the deficit down to less than eight as the Bobcats went on to secure the 81-67 victory.  

Seniors Bennett and Hudspeth were both honored before the contest for their four years of commitment and dedication to the Bryant women's basketball program.

The Black and Gold return to NEC action on Saturday, Feb. 26 when they visit St. Francis (NY) for a 2:00 p.m. matchup.