Bulldogs look for first W at Akron

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL VIES FOR FIRST WIN, FRIDAY (7 P.M.) AT AKRON

Game Notes

AKRON, OHIO -- The Bryant University women's basketball program continues its 2012-13 campaign in search of their first victory of the season when its heads to Akron, Ohio, for a Friday night showdown with the University of Akron (7 p.m.).

Bryant (0-2) is coming off a tough 65-50 loss to the University of Rhode Island on Tuesday night in Kingston, R.I, in a game that included eight ties and seven lead-changes.

The Bulldogs held a 42-39 lead with ten-minutes to play in the second half, but a 19-0 run by

URI (1-1) lifted the Rams to the 15-point win.

Junior Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.) had a career-night, pouring in a game-high 18 points and snatching a game-high 12 rebounds (both career-highs). Classmate Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) chipped in with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Bulldogs held their Rhode Island-rival scoreless for almost the first five minutes of the contest, jumping out to a quick 5-0 lead before the first media break. Schissler continued to be a menace on the boards, racking up six rebounds in the first eight and half minutes of play. Bryant was able to get out in transition early, putting up A 13-7 advantage in the opening ten minutes of the contest.

A barrage of put-backs and jumpers from URI's Symone Bullard help the Rams even the score at 13-13 at the 8:05 mark in the first frame.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Kaitlyn Hinck (Bow, N.H.) and Schissler extended the Black and Gold's lead to six, before URI's Lara Gaspar cut it to four with just under five minutes remaining in the first half.

Despite shooting just 24 percent from the field in the opening half, the Bulldogs got to the line five more times than URI, knocking down 7-of-12 from the line, while the Rams were just 1-of-7 from the free throw stripe.

The Rams came out of the locker room looking to extend their four-point lead, but Bryant quickly responded answering the home squad and taking the 35-33 lead on seven-straight points from junior Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) and Schissler. URI freshman Tayra Melendez brought the score back to even with her fifth point of the half at the 14:36 mark in the second half.

The Bulldogs built up a three-point lead (42-39) at the ten minute mark, however a 19-0 run by the Rams put the hosts up, 58-42, at the 3:28 mark.

The final push put URI up for good, dropping the Bulldogs to 0-2 this season.

The Bulldogs and Zips head into Friday's action having never played each other in Bryant previous four seasons of Division I competition.

The Zips enter Friday with a 2-0 overall record after defeating Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tenn. Tuesday night. Akron was led by junior Rachel Tecca who put up 26 points and 12 rebounds in the W.

Akron returns six letterwinners that played quality minutes in 2012-11 from a team that finished 14-18 overall and 7-9 in MAC play, earning its third consecutive berth to the Mid-American Conference Tournament.

The Zips were picked to finish third in the MAC-East behind Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green. The Zips are led by Tecca, a two-time All-MAC selection who was named to the Preseason All-MAC squad for the second straight year. Also returning to veteran-Akron squad are junior Sina King who averaged 12 points and 6.5 rebounds last season and senior Taylor Ruper who averaged 10 points a game in 2011-12. Through two games, Tecca and King lead the Zips with 19.5 and 12.5 points per game, respectively. Junior guard Kacie Cassell is also averaging nine points, five rebounds and 1.5 steals through two games this year.

Bryant will look to notch their first victory of its 2012-13 campaign on Friday, while the Zips attempt to stay unbeaten on the season.

For links to streaming video and live stats of Friday's action and all the latest on Bryant University women's basketball, visit BryantBulldogs.com.