Women's hoops downs CCSU, wins share of NEC Regular Season Title

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – With its 55-53 victory over Central Connecticut Monday evening, the Bryant University women's basketball team earned a share of the Northeast Conference Regular Season Title and clinched the No. 2 overall seed in the upcoming NEC Tournament.

The Bulldogs (21-8, 14-4 NEC) closed out the regular season on a high note on Monday, taking down the Blue Devils (18-11, 14-4 NEC) to earn the first NEC Regular Season Championship in program history. Bryant and CCSU will split the regular season crown with Central earning the top seed in the tournament based on tiebreakers. As the No. 2 seed, Bryant will host No. 7 Mount St. Mary's, who fell to Saint Francis Monday night in its regular season finale, Sunday at 1 p.m. in the NEC Tournament Quarterfinals.

In a true defensive battle, it was Bryant who out-willed Central Connecticut, led by freshman Ivory Bailey's (Wyomissing, Pa.) 15 points, seven boards and four steals, the Black and Gold overcame just 35 percent shooting from the field to grind out the much-needed win. Junior forward Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) led all scorers with 16 points to go along with seven rebounds, while senior point guard Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.) finished with 11 points, five boards, and four helpers.

Junior guard Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.) chipped in nine points, four caroms and four assists, while sophomore center Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) registered a team-high eight rebounds to go along with four points.

Freshman Camden Musgrave led CCSU's balanced attack with 11 points, while senior Amanda Harrington finished with nine points and game-high 13 boards.

The Bulldogs came storming out of the gating, going on an 11-0 run in the first 4:36 of the game to open its largest lead of the first half. Central eventually settled down, taking its first lead of the contest, 27-24, just over a minute into the second half.

The two teams continued to battle through the 14-minute mark with Bryant's edge holding steady around a basket but, a 15-2 run by the hosts through the nine-minute mark pushed the margin to a game-high 14 points, 50-36, with 8:46 left on the clock.

Facing a double-digit deficit with 3:19 to play, CCSU kicked it into overdrive, holding the Black and Gold to just a single point in the last 3:30, while shrinking the gap to a single basket with under a minute to play. But the Bulldog defense held tough, securing the 55-53 win and a share of the NEC Regular Season Title.

Looking ahead, Bryant will look to take the next step towards an NEC Tournament Championship when they host Mount St. Mary's in the NEC Quarterfinals, Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.) at the Chace Athletic Center.