Douglas hits 1,000, Bulldogs fall to Pioneers 58-50

DANIELLE DOUGLAS REACHES 1,000 POINT CLUB, BUT BULLDOGS FALL, 58-50, WEDNESDAY NIGHT VS. SACRED HEART

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite senior Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) eclipsing the 1,000 career-point milestone, the Bryant University women's basketball team fell to Sacred Heart, 58-50, Wednesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

Sacred Heart extended its advantage to 14, but a 13-0 Bulldog run, which included a pair of big buckets from Whittington, that brought Bryant within just one point, 45-44, with 7:32 left on the clock.

A Gabriell Washington 3-pointer at 6:40 finally halted the Bryant 13-point Bryant run, pushing the visitor's lead back to four points with five minutes left in the contest. Each squad exchanged buckets until a Douglas basket at 3:07 cut the lead back down to two.

A pair of Katie Shepard free throws gave the Pioneers a four-point lead once again with just over two minutes to play. Sacred Heart scored again at the 1:20 mark off a Morgan Merriman lay-in, making it 54-48 Pioneers.

With the Bulldogs forced to send Sacred Heart to the line, Washington knocked down two freebies as the lead stood at eight with less than a minute to play. Douglas knocked down a jumper with 33 seconds left to cut the lead to six, but time was running out for the home team.

Two more Pioneer free throws from Ericka Norman solidified the 58-50 victory for Sacred Heart.

Douglas paced the Bulldogs with 14 points, while junior Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) put up another double-double, finishing with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Classmate Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.) added seven points and five boards off the bench and freshman Maureen Leahy (Springfield, Pa.) posted six points and six rebounds (five offensive).

Merriman led all scorers with 18 points and six rebounds, while Washington added 14 points in 36 minutes.

The Bulldogs dominated the glass, outrebounding the opposition, 47-27, including 19-7 on the offensive end. However, Bryant had a great deal of trouble holding on to the basketball committing 27 turnovers in the game (19 in the first half), compared to just 16 total giveaways for Sacred Heart.

The Bulldogs came out of the gate Wednesday night ready to play, opening up an 11-8 advantage just over eight minutes into the contest, a stark contrast from their game earlier this season. The Pioneers quickly answered the early run, rattling off nine-straight points to reclaim the lead, 18-11.

Sacred Heart was able to maintain its edge but the Bulldogs stayed within striking distance down just four, 25-21, with just over four minutes to play until halftime. The Pioneers closed the frame on a 10-2 run, granting the visitors a 35-23 advantage at the break.

Douglas led the Bulldogs in the opening period with six points and two assists while Schissler added five points and three rebounds. Merriman put up 12 points for the Pioneers to lead all scorers and Washington added seven in 19 minutes.

The second half brought more of the same as Bryant continued to struggle to hold on to the basketball and Sacred Heart finding ways capitalize. However, despite Bryant's 22 turnovers through 25 minutes of play, the Bulldogs found themselves down just 10 points, 41-31, with 15 minutes remaining in the contest.

The Bulldogs have just two more opportunities to earn victories in hopes of a postseason berth, with the first coming Saturday against Saint Francis U. at 1 p.m.

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