Bulldogs hold off LIU, 88-85, complete season sweep of Blackbirds Mon.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind huge performances from junior Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.), the Bryant University women's basketball team took down LIU Brooklyn, 88-85, Monday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs (14-5, 7-1 Northeast Conference) complete the season sweep of the Blackbirds (6-13, 3-5 NEC) and mark their best start of NEC play in program history.

Rucker led the Bulldogs with 24 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, while Winder put up 20 points, six rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) finished with a career-best 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting and freshman Ivory Bailey (Wyomissing, Pa.) added 15 points and five boards.

Sophie Bhasin paced the Blackbirds with 24 points, while Brianna Farris (15) and DeAngelique Waithe (14) added a combined 29 points off the bench.

Just over seven minutes into the contest, the Blackbirds opened their largest lead to that point, 19-13, thanks to a Bhasin 3-pointer from the top the key. LIU extended the margin to seven points until a 5-0 Bryant run brought the hosts within a bucket, 24-22, with 7:40 left in the first half.

The Black and Gold managed to even the score for the first time since the opening minutes, 36-36, on a pair of Ivory Bailey free throws at the 1:43 mark and after trading a pair of baskets, the score remained even, 40-40, heading into the half.

Rucker and Winder combined for 26 points in the first 20 minutes of play while Bhasin led all scorers at the break with 15.

Bryant opened the second half on an 8-0 run to open its largest margin of the contest, 48-40, less than four minutes into the frame. The Bulldogs went on to build their lead to double digits, 57-46, through the 13 minute mark as part of a 17-6 run to start the half.

The Bryant lead grew to as large as 15 points, 72-57, at the 6:30 mark thanks in large part to the tremendous play of Rucker who refused to be denied on the glass on both ends of the floor. With the Bulldogs seemingly in control, the LIU pressure defense began giving the hosts some issues resulting in an 11-2 Blackbird run that brought the visitors with six points, 74-68, with 3:41 left on the clock.

LIU continued to take advantage of the Bryant scoring drought, taking its first lead of the second half, 75-74, at the 1:45 mark on a Farris trifecta.

A Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) free throw with 58 seconds left knotted the score, 75-75, which is where it stayed for the remainder of regulation.

In the opening minutes of overtime, the two teams traded baskets until a pair of Bhasin freebies granted LIU the 83-81 edge with 1:51 left on the clock. A Rucker layup evened the score for the fourth time in the extra period, 83-83, until a pair of Ivory Bailey free throws gave Bryant its first lead of OT with just over a minute to play.

A Jenniqua Bailey FT pushed the advantage to three, 86-83, with 28 seconds left but a quick Bhasin layup brought the visitors within a point once again. A pair from the charity stripe from Olander with 18 seconds left and solid defending iced the game for the Bulldogs, 88-85.

Looking ahead, Bryant will hit the road for its next three contests starting with Robert Morris on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tilt.