Bryant remains top dog in NEC play, beat Terriers, 70-42, Monday in Brooklyn Heights

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Continuing its six-game winning streak, the Bryant University women's basketball team remains undefeated in the Northeast Conference, after defeating St. Francis Brooklyn, 70-42, on Monday afternoon in Brooklyn Heights, N.Y.

The Bulldogs (9-8, 6-0 NEC) extended the margin to 21, 34-13, after opening the second period on a 15-point run, beginning with a made jumper by junior Alex Klein (Waterloo, Ont.), while senior Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored nine of her 23 points during the team's run. The Bryant streak forced the Terriers (3-14, 0-6 NEC) into over seven minutes of scoreless play, until Rachel Iozzia broke the dry spell with a three to narrow the gap to 18, 34-16, with three minutes to play in the half. With four seconds left on the clock, the Bulldogs ran an inbounds play under the basket, where Klein rebounded the missed shot by classmate Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.). Klein, then put it back up for the two-point play as the clock struck zero, placing the Bulldogs up 20, 40-20, at the break.

Bryant was led offensively by Rucker, who finished with her fifth 20+ point game, totaling 23 points off 7-for-10 shooting from the field, a 1-for-1 mark from three and an 8-for-8 tally from the line. Olander came off the bench to add 12 points, shooting 5-for-8 overall and a season-high 100 percent from three (2-2). Klein rounded out the Bryant double-digit point scorers, totaling 11 points on the game, finishing 4-of-5 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe. Sophomore Ivory Bailey (Wyomissing, Pa.) recorded a game-high five assists, while also grabbing three steals for the Black and Gold.

The Bulldogs shot 51.0 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from three and 82.4 from the line. The squad tied its season-high five blocks in a game, with Klein leading the way with a game-high of two. Bryant dished out 18 assists, while forcing the Terriers into 16 turnovers, including nine steals by the Bulldogs. For the first time since March 2, 2013 (vs. Saint Francis U.), the Bulldogs did not allow a double-digit scorer, holding the Terrier's leading scorer Leah Fechko to four points, which stands well below her 15.1 points per game average.

The Terriers were led offensively by Olivia Levey, who finished with eight points. St. Francis shot 31.5 percent from the floor, 16.7 percent from three and 62.5 percent from the chalk.

Halfway through the opening period the Bulldogs hit back-to-back threes to find their first lead of the game, 10-7, after Rucker and Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.) converted from downtown. Olander hit her second 3-pointer of the season to put Bryant up, 17-11, with 2:04 to go in the quarter. With 1:25 to play in the first, senior Dani Anderson (Wellington, Kan.) beat a Terrier defender with a pump fake, before pulling up in the paint to give the Bulldogs their largest lead of the quarter, 19-11.

Bryant was able to maintain their double-digit lead and push the edge to a then game-high 24 points at the 2:35 mark in the third, after Olander hit her second three of the contest to put the Bulldogs up, 54-30, as the shot clock expired.

The Bulldogs built upon their lead, stretching the margin to a game-high 29 points, 69-40, after Anderson finished the lefty layup in transition. The Black and Gold went on to win the game by 28, 70-42, leaving them alone at the top of the NEC standings at 6-0.

The Bulldogs return to Smithfield to take on the number two seed in the conference Robert Morris on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m.