Bulldogs board up Terriers, remain in first place

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.) scored a game-high 19 points, while classmate Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) and sophomore Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) paced a dominant showing on the glass as the Bryant University women's basketball team earned a 61-58 victory over St. Francis Brooklyn in a battle of first-place teams on Monday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs (10-7, 5-1 NEC) outrebounded the Terriers (13-4, 4-2) 60-32 and went to the free throw line 33 times on their way to their eighth victory in the last nine games. Bryant's victory kept them in a first-place tie with Robert Morris, a 74-63 winner over Wagner on Monday afternoon.

Schissler's 19 points came on 6-of-12 shooting from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 showing the charity stripe. Senior Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) was the only other Bulldog to register double-digits, finishing with 16 points. It was Bryant's dominant rebounding, however, that was the difference. Ankoma-Mensa finished with a season-high 18 caroms and Rucker posted a career-high 16 rebounds as the Bulldogs registered 60 rebounds as a team for the first time since Nov. 17, 2008.

The first half was dominated by the senior duo of Bailey and Schissler. The hot-shooting Schissler started the scoring for the Black and Gold, pouring in the first five points of the game on a strong drive and a trifecta. With the score at 8-7 in favor of Bryant, Bailey took over, scoring eight-straight points to push the Bulldog lead to 16-10 with 10:21 to play in the first half. A pair of Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) free throws with 5:25 left opened a seven-point lead but the Terriers stayed in the game with a pair of key three pointers. Jaymee Veney's trifecta made it 24-20 and Sarah Benedetti's three with just 41 seconds brought SFC within two, 30-28, at the break.

Schissler finished with nine points and Bailey added eight at the break for the Bulldogs. Rucker and Ankoma-Mensa each pulled down six rebounds as the Bulldogs held a commanding 27-12 rebounding edge at the break. Veney paced the Terriers with nine first-half points.

In the second frame, the Bulldogs and Terriers battled back and forth before the hosts were able to pull away with a strong showing at the free throw line. It was St. Francis, though, that was first to strike, scoring six quick points to open the half and take a 34-30 lead. Eilidh Simpson knocked down back-to-back shots and Leah Fechko capped the run iwth a layup of her own. Schissler stunted the run with a three and Bailey converted a three-point play to give Bryant the lead back, 36-34, with 17 minutes to play. 

Sloppy offensive posessions caused by good defense ensued as the teams combined for just five field goals over an eight-minute span in the second half. A Jessica Kaufman layup gave SFC a brief 46-44 lead with 7:21 lead before Bailey started an game-changing 8-0 spurt with a layup. Rucker canned a pair of free throws and Schissler sank a three from the top of the key to give the Bulldogs a 51-46 lead with 6:00 left. The Black and Gold then sealed the victory from the charity stripe, going 7-for-10 over the final three minutes. 

Bryant shot 29.3 percent from the field and were victorious despite going 6-for-31 in the second half. Senior Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) was held scoreless but still contributed eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Ankoma-Mensa finished with nine points to go along with her 18 rebounds and also added four assists.

The Bulldogs held the Terriers, who entered the game with a league-best field goal percentage of 43 percent, to just 35 percent from the field. St. Francis went 0-for-10 from beyond the arc in the second half and just 5-for-25 in the game. Veney and Robinson finished with 13 points each.

Bryant heads back on the road next weekend, traveling to Mount St. Mary's on Saturday before taking on Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn., next Monday.

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