Bulldogs freeze Colonials, 71-65, on ESPN3 Saturday afternoon in Smithfield

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In front of a national audience on ESPN3, the Bryant University women's basketball team rose to the occasion, defeating Robert Morris, 71-65, on a snowy afternoon in Smithfield.

To open the final ten minutes, sophomore Ivory Bailey (Wyomissing, Pa.)  found her fourth-career double-double and third of the season after drilling one from downtown, 55-40, resulting in a Colonials timeout, as the crowd erupted with 9:05 to play. In a game of runs, the Colonials fought their way back within 10, 57-47, after the lay in from Mikalah Mulrain with 5:30 to go in the contest. Robert Morris found a single-digit deficit, 63-56, following a three from Anna Niki Stamolamprou at the 2:14 mark. Down two possessions, the Colonials got the ball back with 1:26 to play when Shakema Dahiell converted from behind the arc to pull the visitors within three, 63-30. The Bulldogs sealed the victory at the line, stroking six of their last eight points from the charity stripe to give them the 71-65 victory and advance to 7-0 in the Northeast Conference.

Four Bulldogs scored in double-digits led by senior Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.) with 16 points, shooting 6-for-14 from the floor and 4-for-6 from the line. Joining Winder was Bailey, senior Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio), and junior Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) all with 13 points apiece. Bailey scored her double-double off 13 points and game-high 11 rebounds, including six on the offensive boards. Winder and Rucker each contributed four assists and three steals, respectively, as the Bulldogs forced the Colonials into 15 turnovers.

Bryant finished 43.9 percent from the field, 30.8 percent from three and 77.3 percent from the line, while outscoring the Colonials in three of the four quarters. The Bulldogs stretched their rebounding streak to 18-straight games, outrebounding the Colonials 36-33.

Robert Morris shot 39.7 percent overall, an impressive 46.7 percent from behind the arc and 75 percent from three. Stamolamprou led the Colonials with a game-high 17 points, while Dahiell added 13.

In the opening quarter, Rucker gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 5-4, off a turnaround jumper in the paint with 2:55 to go in the first. Bryant found a six-point streak, stretching the lead to six after Winder scored four the team's six points off midrange jumpers. The Bulldogs closed out the first, 12-9, finding their seventh period where an opponent has totaled single digits.

Into the second, the Black and Gold took their defense to the next level, forcing the Colonials into five turnovers in the first three minutes of the period, including a steal by Winder, who translated it into two made free throws on the ensuing play. Stamolamprou ended a Bryant eight-point run after hitting a three to narrow the gap back to single digits, 20-12 with 6:51 to play in the second. The Bulldogs remained hot, finding their largest lead of the quarter, 26-12, off a free throw from Olander. Robert Morris began to string points together in the second, including an eight-point run, headed by Dashiell's back-to-back threes, to close out the half, 30-26.

The Bulldogs did not let up in the third, pushing the lead back to 10, 38-28, at the 7:29 mark, led by Rucker's four-point production, including a layup that put her into double-digit points. Olander worked on both ends of the floor, denying Colonials' Megan Smith, then scoring the righty layup down the other end to give Bryant an 11-point lead, 44-33, with 4:22 to go in the quarter. Bailey silenced the Colonials' run, sending the lead back to double-digits off a deep three with 1:12 remaining in the third. In similar fashion, Olander hit one from the top of the key on the Bulldogs' following possession, extending the lead to 12, 52-40, to end the quarter.

Bryant was able to hold the Colonials off, 71-65, marking the program's second Division I victory on ESPN3 and first against Robert Morris in a nationally broadcast game. The Bulldogs now turn their attention to Saint Francis U., hosting the Red Flash on Monday at 5 p.m. in Smithfield.