Bulldogs lose steam in second half, Pioneers pull off 65-53 victory

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team had much of the momentum in the first half, but a 7-for-32 second-half mark from the floor cost the Bulldogs, as they gave up a 32-27 halftime lead, losing, 65-53, to Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers (7-9, 4-1 NEC) dominated the Bulldogs (8-8, 3-2) in the third quarter, reclaiming the lead at the 6:45 mark in the third, following Sacred Heart's 8-2 run, including a three from Reigning NEC Player of the Year Hannah Kimmel. After holding Kimmel to two first-half points, the swing player finished the game with five. The Pioneers again captured the lead with 4:41 to play in the period and maintained their advantage through the remainder of the quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs, 20-8. SHU shot 57.1 percent in the third, while the Bulldogs shot 21.4 percent, hitting only 3-of-14 from the floor.

Adaysha Williams opened the fourth quarter with a three to give Sacred Heart its first double-digit advantage of the game, 50-40. Williams led all scorers with 22 points. Shelby Hickey hit her third three of the game, knocking down a triple as the shot clock nearly expired, pushing the visitor's lead to 11, 57-46, with 4:17 to go. The Bulldogs didn't hit a field goal for five minutes in the fourth quarter, going just 6-for-27 in the second half, until senior Alex Klein (Waterloo, Ont.) finished a layup with 1:10 on the clock. The Bulldogs were out-scored, 18-13 in the fourth, dropping to 3-2 in NEC play after losing to Sacred Heart, 65-53.

The Pioneers shot 54.2 percent from the field in the second half, finishing 23-of-51 on the game, while Bryant shot 31.3 percent in 40 minutes of play. Klein led Bryant with 18 points, connecting on 6-of-13 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the line. Freshman Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W. Va.) was the Bulldogs' only other double-digit scorer, as she finished with 15 points. Williams' 22 points led the game, 14 of which came in the second half. Katherine Haines finished with 13 off 60.0 percent shooting from the field.

For the second time this season, the Bulldogs lost the battle on the boards, 39-36, despite 16 offensive rebounds. The Black and Gold turned the ball over below their 20.9 average per game, coughing it up only 15 times to Sacred Heart's 22. Bryant's bench outscored the Pioneers' 19-9.

The Pioneers opened with three turnovers on their first four possessions, spearheaded by junior Naomi Ashley's (Hamilton, Ont.) two steals. The Bulldogs converted Sacred Heart's eight first-quarter turnovers into seven points, as Ashley led the team with three take-aways. Klein kept the Bulldogs ahead in the opening period, scoring a quick eight points, including four in transition off passes from sophomore point guard Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.). Palmer finished the game with a game-high eight assists. Holloway made an impact off the bench in the first, scoring back-to-back left-handed jumpers to give Bryant an eight-point edge, 15-7, with 2:18 on the clock.

The Pioneers continued their scoring effort into the second quarter, going on a 6-0 run, until a Klein layup broke the streak, moving her into double figures and Bryant to a 17-13 lead with 8:16 to play. After missing three-straight attempts, the Black and Gold bounced back on the following possession, as Palmer found freshman Stephanie Lesko (Rumson, N.J.) across court for the wide-open three, putting Bryant up 20-15 with 6:48 to go in the second.

Bryant's 11:21 lead was erased, following SHU's 8-0 run, including Hickey's game-tying three, 20-20, midway through the quarter. With 2:52 to go in the opening half, Palmer drilled a left-wing three to tie the contest, 25-25, before coming up with a steal down the other end. On the ensuring play, Holloway took back the lead for the Bulldogs, 27-25, as she collected the offensive board and put it back up. Sacred Heart's 12th turnover off a Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) steal was converted into a three by Lesko, who added another bucket on the Bulldogs' following possession, as she finished the first half with a career-high eight points.

The Pioneers' 65-53 victory over the Bulldogs snaps Bryant's three-game winning streak, as the Bulldogs will look to bounce back on Monday against Wagner at 2 p.m.