Bryant storms back in second half for 70-60 win at Wagner

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Sophomore Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W.Va.) recorded her 12^th double-double of the year with 24 points and 14 rebounds and sophomore Stephanie Lesko (Rumson, N.J.) added a career-high 12 points to help the Bryant University women's basketball team overcome an 18-point deficit for a 70-60 win over Wagner Monday afternoon at the Spiro Sports Center.

Redshirt-junior Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ontario) chipped in 12 points and freshman Brooke Bjelko (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) grabbed 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who won for the third time in their last four games.

The 18-point deficit was the second-largest overcome in a conference game in NEC history.

GAME INFORMATION
Bryant 70, Wagner 60
Records: Bryant (9-16, 8-6 NEC), Wagner (5-21, 3-12 NEC)
Location: Staten Island, N.Y. (Spiro Sports Center)

COACH BURKE'S COMMENTS
"After being down at the half and not playing our best basketball in the first half, the team put together a complete effort in the second half. Steph Lesko and Brooke Bjelko provided a huge spark for us in the second half. Brooke was a solid defensive presence and big made foul shots for us at the end of game. For their effort, they were the players of the game. It's nice to see different players stepping up at this time of year."

KEY MOMENTS

• Bryant led 15-14 through one quarter of play, but Wagner had a hot start to the second quarter with a 21-2 run to grab a double-digit advantage. The Bulldogs would cut the deficit to nine at the half.
• Wagner held a 55-48 lead midway through the third quarter before an 11-0 run gave the Bulldogs their first lead since the end of the first quarter. Bryant would push the run to 17-3 and outscore Wagner 53-25 in the final 24 minutes of the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Wagner led 6-2 in the early going before a 7-0 Bryant run gave the Bulldogs a 9-6 advantage with 3:26 remaining in the opening quarter.
• Holloway recorded five points and four rebounds in the opening quarter as Bryant led 15-14.
• The Seahawks opened the second quarter on a 13-0 run and eventually pushed it to a 21-2 start to the stanza as they opened up a 35-17 advantage with 4:07 to go in the second quarter.
• Bryant cut the deficit to 37-28 at the half and to 37-32 on a pair of Ashley free throws with 8:16 remaining in the third quarter, as the Bulldogs used a 15-2 run to climb back into the contest.
• The Wagner lead would balloon to 11 in the closing minutes of the third quarter before Bryant closed the frame on a 9-2 run to pull within 50-46 heading to the final 10 minutes.
• Wagner moved ahead 55-48 with 8:22 remaining before an 11-0 Bryant run gave the Bulldogs their first lead since the first quarter.
• The Seahawks broke up the Bulldog run with a three-pointer to cut the Bryant lead to 59-58, but four straight points from Holloway and a Palmer layup gave the Bulldogs a seven-point advantage with 2:12 to go.
• The Bulldogs would record their final five points of the game from the free-throw line.

STATS

• Holloway tallied 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting and 7-of-12 from the line while adding 14 rebounds and matching her career-high with four steals.
• Lesko was 5-of-6 from the floor and hit a pair of three-pointers. The sophomore matched her career-high with two steals.
• Ashley scored 12 points with a 6-for-6 showing from the free-throw line and adding five rebounds.
• Junior Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) dished out six assists and tallied seven points.
• Bjelko grabbed 11 rebounds and hit three free throws late in the fourth quarter.
• Bryant shot 41.1 percent from the floor, while Wagner shot 41.8 percent.
• The Bulldogs held a 40-33 rebounding advantage.
• Bryant tallied a season-high 15 steals off 27 Wagner turnovers.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant improves to 15-2 all-time against Wagner and 8-0 in meetings on Staten Island.
• The 15 steals were the most since the Bulldogs recorded 16 in an NEC quarterfinal against Mount St. Mary's March 8, 2015.
• The 18-point comeback was the second-largest deficit ever overcome in an NEC game, bested only by Robert Morris' 21-point comeback at Central Connecticut Jan. 4, 2014.
• Holloway now has 12 double-doubles on the year, including eight in NEC play. The sophomore has scored 10 or more points in 23 games this year and 20 or more nine times.
• Lesko recorded her third game of 10 or more points this season and surpassed her career-high of 11 points set at Brown Nov. 12.

UP NEXT
Bryant returns home Saturday to host Robert Morris. The 1 p.m. tip can be seen on NEC Front Row with Tristan Hobbes on the call. Tickets are available by clicking HERE.