Bryant falls to Brown on Sunday

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Three Bulldogs poured in double-digit scoring efforts, but the Bryant University women's basketball team fell to the Brown Bears, 85-62, at the Pizzitola Sports Center in Providence on Sunday afternoon.

Bryant trailed by just six points heading into the second half, but Brown's 3-point shooting came alive in the second half to extend the Bears' lead.

GAME INFORMATION

Brown 85, Bryant 62

Records: Bryant 0-2, Brown 1-0

Location: Pizzitola Sports Center (Providence, R.I.)

Attendance: 239

COACH BURKE'S COMMENTS

"I thought in the first half, we had good effort," head coach Mary Burke said. "I think our 2-3 zone worked really well and the players came out ready to play, ready to compete. I thought in the second half, we turned the ball over way too much and gave up too many offensive rebounds and points in transition. Instead of coming out and playing with the type of energy that we needed, we got a bit deflated by turning the ball over and giving up some easy baskets. With that being said, I did see some progress from our scrimmages and our game at BC. There were some good things to take away from it, but there are some things that need to get better."

KEY MOMENTS

• Brown went on a 13-4 run to begin the second half.  In that time, the Bears forced five steals and connected on two 3-point shots.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bulldogs and Bears extended lead changes in the first half. Initially trailing 11-4, the Bulldogs climbed back and took the lead on a Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) basket late in the first quarter to give Bryant a 12-11 advantage.
• Senior Kathleen Everson (Farmingville, N.Y.) drained her first-career 3-pointer with three seconds left in the first half to bring the game within six points.
• Brown outscored Bryant in the third quarter, 20-10, to extend their lead to double-figures.  
• A 12-5 Brown run in the fourth quarter helped extinguish a Bryant comeback.

STATS

• Three Bulldogs scored in double figures. Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W. Va.) led Bryant with 19 points and also grabbed nine rebounds. Sophomore Stephanie Lesko (Rumson, N.J.) added 11 points and Everson scored 10 points.
• Lesko's 11 points were a career high. Her former top mark was eight points vs. Sacred Heart last season.
• Everson's ten points were also a new career best. It marked the second straight game that Everson set a career high in points, scoring eight at Boston College on Friday.
• Junior Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) led the Bulldogs with five assists.
• Holloway finished 7-of-16 from the floor, including 1-2 from 3-point range.
• The Bulldogs were edged on the glass and were outrebounded by Brown, 42-41. However, Bryant won the battle on the defensive boards, 29-26.

GAME NOTES

• Sunday's game was the first of the season for Brown. Bryant opened its season on Friday when the Bulldogs traveled to Boston College.
• Every Bulldog who played had at least one rebound. Holloway (9), Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ont.) (6), and Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) (5) all grabbed at least five rebounds for Bryant.
• Bryant is now 4-6 all-time against Brown.

UP NEXT

Bryant heads to Maine for a Tuesday night matchup with the Black Bears. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN3.