Bulldogs fall to Saint Francis U in Monday night shootout

LORETTO, Pa. – Four Bulldogs reached double figures in scoring led by sophomore Sydney Holloway's (Morgantown, W.Va.) 18 points, but the Bryant University women's basketball team fell on the road to the Saint Francis University Red Flash, 87-69, at the DeGol Arena in Loretto on Monday night.

GAME INFORMATION

Saint Francis U 87, Bryant 69

Records: Bryant 6-14 (5-4 NEC), Saint Francis U 13-8 (8-1 NEC)
Location: DeGol Arena (Loretto, Pa.)

COACH BURKE'S COMMENTS

"I thought in the second half, we really turned the ball over too much and Saint Francis was able to capitalize," Bryant head coach Mary Burke said. "It's something they do extremely well, there's a reason why they're one of the top two teams in the league. We have to try to use this experience to learn from it, so the next time we see them we are better prepared."

KEY MOMENTS

• With 6:11 remaining in the game, SFU's Jessica Kovatch converted on a 4-point play after getting fouled on a long-range shot. The shot put the Red Flash up 18 and ended the Bulldog rally.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bulldogs led by as many as five points in the first quarter, but the Red Flash were able to take a 24-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.
• Both teams defense stepped up in the second, but SFU was able to build upon their lead and carried an eight-point lead into the half. Kovatch had 20 points at the half to lead both teams, finishing with a game-high 36.
• The Black and Gold played the Red Flash close in the third quarter, but SFU outscored Bryant, 20-19, in the frame. Holloway had seven points in the quarter, while senior Kathleen Everson (Farmingville, N.Y.) had six of her 11 in the third frame.
• SFU was able to open up the game in the fourth, finishing with 27 points in the quarter. The Red Flash shot 5-of-10 from 3-point range in the final 10 minutes.

STATS

• Four Bulldogs scored in double figures on Monday. Holloway led all Bryant players with 18, while Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) poured in 15. Everson finished with 11, while junior Haley Connors (West Hartford, Conn.) scored a season-high 10 points.
• Junior Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) led all players with six assists.
• Holloway had her ninth double-double of the season on Monday, finishing the game with 18 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore also had three steals and blocked a shot.

GAME NOTES

• Zegarowski's 15 points are a new career-high. Her previous best was 14, coming in Bryant's 85-70 win over SFU last season. She has an average of 14 points in three career games against the Red Flash.
• Everson finished six rebounds in the game, topping her previous career-best of four.
• Bryant had 50 team rebounds, the most in a game since Jan. 27, 2017, also on the road at Saint Francis U.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs return to the Chace Athletic Center on Saturday, Feb. 3 when Bryant hosts Fairleigh Dickinson at 1 p.m. In the first meeting between the two schools, Bryant came out victorious, 65-48.