Holloway, Bjelko record double-doubles, but Bryant falls to Robert Morris at home

POSTGAME QUOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W.Va.) and freshman Brooke Bjelko (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) each had double-doubles, but the Bryant University women's basketball team fell at home to the Robert Morris University Colonials, 67-61, on Saturday afternoon in Smithfield.

GAME INFORMATION
Robert Morris 67, Bryant 61
Records: Robert Morris (20-6, 13-2 NEC), Bryant (9-17, 8-7 NEC)
Location: Smithfield, R.I. (Chace Athletic Center)

COACH BURKE'S COMMENTS
"I was pleased with the players' effort today," Bryant head coach Mary Burke said. "I thought out of the gate, right from the tap, they played well and were ready to meet the challenges of the day. I think the glaring thing that stands out is the 26 turnovers that we had. That's not something that we've been doing lately and against a team like this you cannot turn the ball over that much. We also gave up big offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter."

KEY MOMENTS

• With 15 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Holloway scored on a jumper after grabbing an offensive rebound to cut the RMU lead to just a point. The Colonials' led by as many as 14 in the game.
• Robert Morris' Nina Augustin answers back with a 3-point basket to start the fourth quarter that gave the Colonials some breathing room and started an 8-2 run.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Out of the gate, RMU put pressure on the Bryant defense and scored 22 first-quarter points and took a 22-12 lead into the first intermission. Honoka Ikematsu scored nine points on three 3-point baskets to lead the Colonials.
• Bryant's defense answered the call and allowed RMU to score just 11 points in the second quarter, but Robert Morris took a 33-24 lead into the half. Bjelko scored five points in the quarter.
• The Bulldogs opened the second half roaring and ready to go, immediately going on a 9-2 run to start the half and a 16-7 run going back into the second quarter. After scoring just six first-half points, Holloway came out and scored 13 points in the third quarter.
• A deep 3-pointer from junior Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) narrowed the RMU lead to just four, but the Colonials bounced back and used a quick 7-2 run to take a nine-point lead. Bjelko scored Bryant's final five-point, including two baskets in the last minute of play.

STATS

• Holloway's 23 points and 12 rebounds led both teams. The sophomore shot 11-of-14 from the floor, good for 78.6 percent.
• Bjelko played in just 23 minutes, scoring 12 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. She blocked two shots, as well.
• Redshirt junior Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ont.) scored six points, had four rebounds and came away with three steals. The three thefts were a team-high.
• Palmer led all players with eight assists.
• Sophomore Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) scored six points, had two steals and two rebounds for the Bulldogs. 
• The Bulldogs as a team shot 81.3 percent from the free throw line. Zegarowski went 4-of-4 from the stripe to lead the team.

GAME NOTES

• Bryant shot 51.1 percent from the floor, the team's best shooting performance this season. The Bulldogs shot 47.2 percent against Maine.
• Bjelko's two rejections were a career high. Previously, she had recorded one blocked shot on three separate occasions, the last at Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 17.

UP NEXT

Bryant stays at home and hosts Saint Francis U on Monday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN 3 and will also be the Bulldogs' Senior Day, thanking senior Kathleen Everson (Farmingville, N.Y.) for her dedication to the Bryant program over the past four years. Tickets can be bought here.