Holloway's 28 points helps lift Bulldogs over Blue Devils, 66-50

POSTGAME QUOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A 40-point second half lifted the Bryant University women's basketball team over the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils, 66-50, on Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield.

Sophomore forward Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W. Va.) poured in a career-best 28 points to give her 500 in her career. She shot 8-of-15 from the floor and 12-of-14 from the free throw line in the Bulldogs' victory over CCSU.

GAME INFORMATION

Bryant 66, Central Connecticut 50

Records: Central Connecticut 1-13 (1-2 NEC), Bryant 2-12 (1-2 NEC)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

COACH BURKE'S COMMENTS

"I thought it was really great for the players to start off 2018 with a home win. I thought we did a few things really well, we were able to hold Central to 50 points defensively which was great. Offensively, getting into the 60s was a goal of ours because we've had trouble scoring. I'm really proud of the effort. Needless to say, it hasn't been easy, but the players have put us in this position in order to be successful."

KEY MOMENTS

• Holloway scored on a layup with 4:33 remaining in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs a one-point lead that Bryant would never relinquish.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CCSU was dominant in the early goings, taking a 19-10 lead into the second quarter.
• Bryant whittled the Blue Devil lead to just two going into the half, outscoring CCSU 16-9 in the second quarter behind six-straight points from senior Kathleen Everson (Farmingville, N.Y.).
• The Bulldogs kept the pressure on the Blue Devils, scoring 18 points in the third quarter and allowing just eight points defensively. Holloway scored 11 of her 28 points in the third frame.
• The Bulldogs kept the momentum going in the fourth quarter, outscoring CCSU 22-14.

STATS

• The Bulldogs shot 41.4 percent from the floor, the best shooting performance since Nov. 29 when Bryant hosted Boston University.
• Junior Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) returned to action after missing the last five games due to injury and made an immediate impact on the floor. She had seven assists, four steals and a block in Saturday's game.
• The freshman duo of Hannah Scanlan (Rumson, N.J.) and Brooke Bjelko (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) continued to dominate the post. Scanlan posted eight points and nine rebounds to go along with three blocks, while Bjelko added eight points and seven boards for the Bulldogs.

GAME NOTES

• Holloway had her sixth double-double of the season against the Blue Devils, grabbing 10 rebounds to go with her 28 points. Her 28 points were the most by a Bulldog since Breanna Rucker scored 28 on Jan. 12, 2015.
• The West Virginia native continued her hot hand from the free throw line, connecting on 12-of-14 shots, good for 85.7 percent. Over her last three games, she is 29-of-33 from the line, good for 87.9 percent.
• Bryant's 20 assists were the most from the team this year and most in a game since Feb. 18 of last season in a win over Saint Francis U.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 13 when the team travels to Fairleigh Dickinson for a meeting with the Knights. The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip and can be viewed on NEC Front Row.