Despite late push, Bulldogs fall, 71-69, at RMU

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COMES UP JUST SHORT AT ROBERT MORRIS, 71-69, MONDAY MORNING

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA. – Finding themselves down, 59-40 with 11 minutes to play, the Bryant University women's basketball team fought all the way back to cut the lead to just two with four seconds remaining, however time eventually ran out on the Black and Gold as they fell to Robert Morris, 71-69, Monday morning.

Despite hot shooting throughout the game by the home team, the Bulldogs (4-8, 0-2 NEC) hung tough cutting the Colonials (3-10, 2-0 NEC) lead to 63-52 with just over five minutes remaining.

The Black and Gold continued to fight, lifted by a huge triple from Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.), cutting the lead to 64-59 with under three minutes left.

Bryant continued its inspired defensive effort into the final ticks of the second half, as Schissler knocked down a another deep triple to cut the RMU lead, 69-65. Seconds later Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) intercepted a pass and got to the line, knocking down two free throws to bring Bryant within a basket, 69-67 with just six seconds remaining.

After Robert Morris knocked down two freebies to bring the lead back to four, Katie Whittington (Twinsburg, Ohio) knocked down a big pair of FT's of her own to make it a two point game with four seconds remaining.

Schissler led the Bulldogs with 20 points (her 3rd 20-point game this season), six rebounds and three assists, while Douglas added 13 points and five assists. Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) followed up her monster game a Saint Francis U. with a solid 13 points and 6 boards, and Whittington posted all nine her points in the second half.

Robert Morris' Artemis Spanou led all scorers with 26 points and 20 rebounds, while Lou Mataly added 16 points of her own.

Bryant shot just over 37 percent from the field, knocking down a season high eight 3-pointers in the process. The Colonials  shot 42 percent, going 10-22 from deep.

Picking up right where they left off on Saturday, the Bulldogs got off to a hot start Monday morning at Robert Morris. Unfortunatly, the Colonials were on fire from deep, hitting four 3's in the first five minutes of play, jumping out to a 19-16 lead nearly eight minutes through the first half.

As the Bulldogs began to cool off, Robert Morris continued its assault from long range behind a pair of triples from Lou Mataly to extend its advantage, 27-20, through the eight-minute mark.

The Colonials outscored the Bulldogs 23-11 in the final 10 minutes of the frame, finishing the half at 50 percent shooting from the field (compared to Bryant's 40 percent), including 7-15 from 3-point range.

Spanou led all scorers with 16 points and 14 rebounds at the half, while Schissler led Bryant with 11 points and three boards at the break.  Douglas and Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.) each chipped in five points of their own in the first period.

Out of the locker room, the Colonials remained on-fire from behind the arc as Mataly continued to hit from deep, opening up a 54-37 advantage at the 14:30 mark.

The Bulldogs will return to the hardwood on Saturday when they head to Central Connecticut St., in search of their first win in the Northeast Conference.

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