Bulldogs top RMU, 61-56, earn trip to NEC Tourney

WHITTINGTON AND DOUGLAS LEAD BULLDOGS PAST COLONIALS AND ON TO NEC TOURNEY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Two 20-point efforts from seniors Katie Whittington (Twinsburg, Ohio) and Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) propelled the Bryant University women's basketball to a 61-56 victory over Robert Morris Monday evening, granting the Bulldogs their first ever trip to the Northeast Conference Tournament.

With 15 seconds left on the clock, senior Whittington penetrated into the lane lofting a floater into the basket to grant the Bulldogs a 57-56 lead. Just seconds later, Douglas intercepted the Robert Morris inbounds pass and was sent to line, knocking down a pair to extend the Bryant lead to three, 59-56 with 5.9 seconds left on the clock.

Two more Douglas' free throws secured the 61-56 victory for the Black and Gold, granting them a trip to the NEC Tournament!

After falling into a 33-24 hole just minutes into the second half, the Bulldogs rallied a 21-11 run including a pair of huge 3-pointers from Whittington to earn back the lead, 45-44, with 5:49 remaining in the contest.

A contested layup by junior Ankoma-Mensa at the 5:49 mark of the second half pushed the Bulldogs into a one point advantage, 45-44, with a trip to the NEC Tournament on the line. Just a minute later Artemis Spanou corralled a rebound and laid in a bucket of her own to give Robert Morris the one point edge.

A Schissler free throw knotted the score at 46-46 with just under four minutes left on the clock, but four-straight points from Kelly Hartwell gave the Colonials a four-point lead with three minutes to play.

A huge Whittington steal in the back court pulled the Bulldogs within a basket, 50-48, with 2:33 to play. A Rucker put-back tied the score at 50-50 but Anna Kavasila responded with a clutch bucket to put Robert Morris up, 52-50, with just over a minute left.

With 38 ticks left, Whitington knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to even the score, 52-52. The Colonials had a chance in the finals seconds but failed to score, sending the game into extra time.

In overtime Robert Morris struck first, when Spanou knocked down 1-of-2 at the line to give the visitors a 53-52 lead with just over three minutes to play. A Hartwell fade-away at 2:42 pushed the advantage to three points.

After Ravelli hit 1-of-2 from the line, Whittington buried a corner jumper and Douglas hit a free throw to cut the Robert Morris lead to one point, 56-55, with 41 seconds remaining on the clock.

The Bulldogs will return to action on Sunday, March 10 when they head back to Hamden, Conn. for a showdown with NEC-top dog Quinnipiac. Time is yet to be determined. NEC Tournament Headquarters.