Bulldogs fall short at Saint Francis, 81-76

ANKOMA-MENSA SETS CAREER-HIGHS IN POINTS AND REBOUNDS DESPITE LOSS

LORETTO, PA. – Despite a monster game from junior Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Barmpton, Ont.) the Bryant University women's basketball team fell to Saint Francis U., 81-76, Saturday afternoon in Loretto, Pa.

Despite outshooting and outrebounding their opponents, the Bulldogs (4-7, 0-1 NEC) were unable to earn their first Northeast Conference victory, while Saint Francis improves to 6-6 (1-0 NEC) on the season.

Ankoma-Mensa put up career-highs in points and rebounds, pouring in 25 points, grabbing 22 boards and getting six steals (tying a career-high). Classmate Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) chipped in with a strong showing as well, finishing with 18 points and seven assists.

Junior Alli Williams led the Red Flash with 30 points and 10 boards, while Nickia Gibbs added 15 points and six assists.

The Bulldogs outrebounded the Red Flash, 50-34, a season-high for Bryant, while shooting 43 percent from the field. Saint Francis shot 10-23 from the 3-point line, including 7-12 in the first half, while Bryant made only 4-16 from long range.

Junior Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.) chipped in with nine points, three boards and three steals, while freshman Maureen Leahy (Springfield, Pa.) added eight points and four rebounds in the losing effort.

Through the five-minute mark in the second half, the two teams traded a one-point lead back-and-forth until Williams knocked down a huge trifecta from the corner to give the Red Flash the lead, 68-66, with under four minutes to play.

Saint Francis's Brooklyn Taylor nailed a 3-ball at the 2:50 mark to put the home team up, 71-66, right before a Williams steal-and-score put SFU up, 73-66. The Bulldogs aggressive play on the defensive-end earned the Red Flash four trips to the free-throw line, but Bryant responded with a pair of baskets, making the score 77-72 with under a minute to play.

The Bulldogs made a late push but the Red Flash were too much down the stretch.

From the get-go, it was apparent that each team wanted to play a fast-paced tempo, as both squads came roaring out of the game. Ankoma-Mensa got off to a great start, scoring nine of Bryant's first 21 points, as the Black and Gold jumped out to a 21-19 lead nearly halfway through the first half.

The hot shooting continued for the Bulldogs as Ankoma-Mensa controlled the paint on the offensive end, but the Red Flash answered every Bryant-basket, taking a 34-33 lead with four minutes to play in the half.

SFU closed the period with some stellar defense and sharp shooting, opening up an 11-point advantage with a minute to play, however Bryant got a bucket before the close cutting the Saint Francis advantage to 44-35 heading into the half.

Ankoma-Mensa led the Bulldogs with 13 points and nine rebounds in the opening frame, while Bailey put up six points and three assists. Alli Williams posted 14 points and seven boards in the half for the Red Flash.

The Black and Gold opened the second half just like they did the first, going on an 10-2 run, cutting the deficit to 46-45 with 15 minutes to play.

After the initial run by Bryant, both team settled down, trading baskets through the eight minute mark of the second half. Every time the Bulldogs would make a surge to take the lead, the Red Flash would respond with score of their own to maintain a slim, but steady advantage.

The Bulldogs will look to notch their first NEC victory on Monday at Robert Morris. Game time is set for 10 a.m.

For all the latest news on Bryant University women's basketball, visit BryantBulldogs.com