Winder sets DI program record in 84-72 win over Saint Francis U.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Defeating its eighth-straight Northeast Conference foe, the Bryant University women's basketball team conquered Saint Francis U., 84-72, Monday evening at the Chace Athletic Center behind a career-high 27 points from senior Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.).

The Bulldogs (11-8, 8-0 NEC) had a day of bests against the Red Flash (7-12, 5-3), as the team remained undefeated in NEC play, becoming one of only two teams to start the league slate with an 8-0 mark since Bryant joined the conference in 2008-09.

Winder set a new Division I program record, finding the 133rd three of her career in the first quarter. The guard hit four threes in the game, while tying her career-high 27 points, which also stood as a game-high. Freshman Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) scored new career highs with 15 points and four steals. Sophomore Ivory Bailey (Wyomissing, Pa.) was in on the long list of bests, recording a career-most five steals. The reigning NEC Rookie of the Year also notched her fourth double-double of the season off 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Black and Gold. Junior Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.) added 12 points off the bench for the Bulldogs.

Bryant finished with a season-best 14 steals while forcing the Red Flash into 22 turnovers. The Bulldogs shot 37.1 percent from the floor and 34.6 percent from behind the arc. Both teams went to the line often in a game that saw 52 fouls, with Bryant going 23-for-29 from the line behind a 10-for-11 mark from Palmer. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Red Flash, 53-33, tallying their 11th double-digit rebounding differential of the season.

Saint Francis U. finished the outing 37.7 percent overall, making 11 threes while going 15-for-20 from the chalk. The Red Flash was led offensively by freshman Jessica Kovatch with 24 points in her 32 minutes of play, while Aisha Brock added 12 points. Brielle Ward paced the visitors on the glass with eight boards (6 points).

The Bulldogs found their first lead of the game when Palmer hit a three from the elbow extended, giving Bryant a two-point edge, 6-4, with 7:36 to play in the first. Winder's record-setting three came at the 2:16 mark in the first to put the Bulldogs up 15-11. The guard's play was a part of an eight-point Bryant run, putting the hosts up nine, 20-11, before the Red Flash climbed back within five, 20-15, to end the period.

Winder stayed hot into the second quarter, dribbling through traffic and finishing the right-handed layup under pressure to push Bryant's lead to 10, 33-23, with 4:16 to go. The Bulldogs found their largest lead of the quarter at the close of a six-point run, 41-29, when Winder hit her third bucket of the half in the paint.

The Bulldogs opened up the third on a 14-point run, including five points off back-to-back steals from Winder and Palmer that extended the home edge to a then game-high 23 points, 55-32. Bailey added to the Bryant defensive effort during the run, finding her third steal, which translated into a made three at the other end with 8:11 to go in the third. The Black and Gold continued to execute from the free throw line, adding 10 points from the charity stripe in the last six minutes to close out the period with a 67-45 advantage.

The Red Flash strung together nine-straight points late in the fourth, but the Bulldogs maintained their edge despite being outscored, 27-17, in the quarter before ultimately winning the contest, 84-72.

The Black and Gold return to action on Saturday, as they travel to Fairfield, Conn., to take on Sacred Heart at 1 p.m.