Bryant tops Rhode Island, advances to Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament championship Sunday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. –  The Bryant University women's basketball team earned its first win of the season on Saturday, as the team rode a 24-point fourth quarter to victory and topped the University of Rhode Island Rams, 58-52, in the first round of the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament at Providence College.

GAME INFORMATION
Bryant 58, Providence 52
Records: Bryant 1-6, Rhode Island 1-5
Location: Alumni Hall – Providence College (Providence, R.I.)
Attendance: 582

COACH BURKE'S COMMENTS

"I'm really happy for the players," Bryant head coach Mary Burke said. The month of November was definitely a real challenge. We played some very tough competition and unfortunately fell short in a couple of overtime losses. I think we reaped the benefit playing today against a tough University of Rhode Island team. The players really battled, they've been season-tested through the month of November and really came out and played hard and tough and did whatever was necessary to get the win."

KEY MOMENTS

• Junior Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) hit a 3-pointer to bring the game within five points at the 6:18 mark in the fourth quarter to spark Bryant's offense.
• Redshirt junior Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ont.) scored running basket to tie the game with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. It was the first time the game had been tied since 2:17 remaining in the first half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Bryant jumped out to a 6-0 lead over the game's first 42 seconds and didn't surrender that lead until 1:53 remained in the quarter.
• Rhode Island dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Bulldogs 17-10.
• Bryant forced four consecutive turnovers in the fourth quarter to help start the comeback. Backed by its defense, Bryant started the final frame on a 13-2 run and would ultimately only allow seven points in the fourth.
• In the fourth quarter, sophomore Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W. Va.) had a big three-point play to help secure the Bryant victory. Holloway collected a steal and followed through with a layup in traffic. Bumped on the shot, Holloway converted the free throw and gave Bryant a five-point lead.

STATS

• Palmer led the game with 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor. She was a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line in the game.
• Bryant won the turnover battle, forcing 31 Rhode Island turnovers in the game.
• The Bulldogs shot a perfect 13-of-13 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter.
• Three Bulldogs scored in double figures versus Rhode Island. Palmer's 17 led the game, Holloway had 14 and sophomore Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) had 10.
• Bryant did not allow the Rams a double-figure scorer.

GAME NOTES

• There were four lead changes and five ties in Saturday's game.
• Bryant's 24 fourth-quarter points were the most by the team in a single quarter this season.
• Bryant trailed by 15 with 2:24 left in the third quarter before coming back and securing the victory.

UP NEXT

Bryant will meet Brown in the championship game of the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament. The game will again be held at Providence College, with the game slotted for a 2 p.m. tip. The contest will follow the consolation game of the tournament, which features Rhode Island at Providence at noon.