Bulldogs knock off Robert Morris, 69-66, Sat. to move into tie for first place

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind 34 combined points from juniors Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) and Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.), the Bryant University women's basketball team won its fourth-straight contest, taking down Robert Morris, 69-66, Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the win, the Bulldogs (19-7, 12-3 Northeast Conference) not only set a Division I program record for NEC wins in a season, but they also move into a three-way tie for first place in the league standings along with the Colonials (14-12, 12-3 NEC) and Central Connecticut who knocked off Sacred Heart on Saturday. Bryant's fourth-straight victory also snapped an 11-game Robert Morris winning streak.

Rucker and Winder led the way for the Bulldogs, each finishing with a team-high 17 points, with Rucker logging her 20th double-double of the season finishing with 15 boards in 39 minutes. Winder added a pair of assists and a career-high six steals in a full 40 minutes of action.

Sophomore center Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) added 12 points and nine rebounds, while senior point guard Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) chipped in nine points and seven helpers. Freshman guard Ivory Bailey (Wyomissing, Pa.) finished with seven points, six boards, and three assists in 38 minutes.

Juniors Dani Anderson (Wellington, Kan.) and Maureen Leahy (Springfield, Pa.) combined for seven points, logging some quality minutes off the Bulldog bench.

Freshman Megan Smith paced Robert Morris with 23 points, 19 of which came in the second half, while Lou Mataly (11) and Judith Sole (10) rounded out the RMU double-digit scorers.

At the under-eight media break, the Black and Gold opened their largest lead of the first half, 21-14, with 7:55 left until halftime. Despite some pushback form the Colonials, Bryant maintained its seven-point edge, 35-28, at the break behind 19 combined points from Winder (10) and Rucker (9).

The second half brought much of the same for the Bulldogs as the host's advantage grew to as large as 11 on two separate occasions, and remained steady, 58-49, through the under-eight media timeout of the second half.

Bryant rode its lead through the four-minute mark but a 12-2 Colonial run from the 3:53 mark to the 26 second mark brought the visitors within a single point for the first time since the first half, however clutch free throw shooting from the Bulldogs sealed a 69-66 victory.

Looking ahead, the Black and Gold will put their NEC-leading four-game win streak on the line when they visit Wagner on Monday (7 p.m.) for their final road game of the regular season.