Bulldogs slip past Monmouth, 55-49

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  – The Bryant University women's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak in impressive fashion Saturday afternoon, edging visiting Monmouth, 55-49, in Northeast Conference action at the Chace Athletic Center.

Despite shooting just 28.8 percent from the field (17-of-59), the Bulldogs (12-8, 5-4 NEC) held an opponent below 50 points for just the fourth time this season on an outstanding defensive effort while snapping the Hawks' (11-9, 6-5 NEC) eight-game winning streak in the process.

Only two Bulldogs recorded double-digit scoring, as sophomore Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) led all players with 14 points while junior Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) finished the day with 11 points and seven steals – one shy of her personal best in the takeaway department.

Despite the low offensive totals, Bryant was dominant in the paint indicative of its 53-39 advantage in rebounding. Senior Brittany Stahura (Amsterdam, N.Y.) managed to haul in a career-high 16 boards – two ahead of junior Meredith Soper's (Winthrop, Mass.) 14 rebounds.

Both teams were cold from the field, with Bryant converting just 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) from long range. The Black and Gold made up for it from the free-throw line by knocking down 20-of-27 from the stripe (.741) while Monmouth finished the day 11-of-15 in free throws (.733). The Hawks registered an identical clip from the field (17-of-59) as the Bulldogs, while going 4-of-19 from beyond the arc (.211).

Saturday marked the first time in the 2011-12 season that the Bulldogs won despite shooting less than 30 percent from the field. Before the game, Bryant was 0-4 when registering a field goal percentage in the 20s.

Just one visitor eclipsed the 10-point mark, as Preseason All-NEC Team member Alysha Womack dropped 11 points for the Hawks while shooting 3-of-20 from the field.

After Bryant took a game-high 10-point lead early in the second half, Monmouth would chip away at the home side's lead until making it a one-point game with 4:12 left in regulation by means of an 11-4 run over a span of six minutes that trimmed the score to 43-42.

But the Bulldogs promptly went on an 11-3 run highlighted by clutch baskets from Ankoma-Mensa, Soper and Stahura to keep the visitors at bay. Comfortably ahead by six with less than a minute to play, the Hawks were forced to foul in the waning moments of regulation until the buzzer eventually sounded with the Black and Gold ahead by six.

Douglas and Ankoma-Mensa combined for 17 of the home team's 27 points in the first half, as both dropped nine and eight points, respectively, in the opening 20 minutes. Douglas came up with five steals, while Soper and Stahura garnered eight and seven rebounds, respectively.

With the game tied at 14-14 with 8:24 remaining in the first half, the Bulldogs used an 11-2 scoring run that lasted the ensuing six minutes to pull ahead, 25-16, with 2:26 left in the frame. Both teams exchanged baskets to close out the half, and the home side entered the break with a seven-point (27-20) lead at halftime.

Both sides knocked down nine shots from the field in the half with the Bulldogs attempting 30 shots total (.300) while the Hawks registered 27 attempts (.333). Bryant used strong play underneath to outrebound the visitors by a 25-19 margin, while both teams combined for 27 giveaways with Monmouth committing one more turnover (14) than the Bulldogs (13).

The Bulldogs return to the Chace Athletic Center on Monday (Jan. 30) to round out the weekend against another Garden State opponent, Fairleigh Dickinson, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. on Monday evening.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University women's basketball, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com; also follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.