Bulldogs fall to Terriers in final regular season game, 66-60

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y.  – Sophomore Stephanie Lesko (Rumson, N.J.) connected on three 3-pointers, but the Bryant University women's basketball team fell to the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers on Sunday afternoon, 66-60, at the Pope Physical Education Center in Brooklyn Heights.

GAME INFORMATION

St. Francis Brooklyn 66, Bryant 60

Records: Bryant 9-20 (8-10 NEC), St. Francis Brooklyn 13-16 (9-9 NEC)
Location: Steinberg Wellness Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

COACH BURKE'S COMMENTS:

"We came out to start the game on a great note. We had good defensive effort in the first quarter and played with a good level of intensity. In the second half, we started making mistakes that we couldn't afford to and didn't play with the level of intensity that we have shown we can play at. We had trouble scoring, unfortunately, which was the difference in the game."

KEY MOMENTS

• Junior Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) scored on a layup with 33 seconds remaining in regulation to bring the game within two.
• SFBK's Maria Palarino answered back with a pair of free throws to make it four-point game and put the game out of reach for Bryant.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Freshman Hannah Scanlan (Rumson, N.J.) poured in seven points and sophomore Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W.Va.) added six as the Bulldogs broke out to an early lead and ended the first quarter leading, 20-7.
• St. Francis Brooklyn bounced back in the second quarter thanks to six points in the frame from Casey Carangelo and five from Jade Johnson. The Terriers trimmed the Bulldog lead to two, 33-31, entering the half.
• A Lesko 3-pointer was the only field goal for Bryant in the third quarter. Redshirt junior Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ont.) added a pair of free throws, but SFBK outscored Bryant, 12-5, in the quarter.
• Both teams' offenses clicked in the fourth, as the Terriers paced the Bulldogs and extended their lead after scoring 23 points in the final quarter. Lesko and junior Haley Connors (West Hartford, Conn.) added a pair of 3-point baskets in the quarter.

STATS

• Holloway finished with 13 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and a steal on Sunday.
• Ashley tallied 12 points, four rebounds, three steals and had two assists for the Bulldogs.
• Lesko finished with nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc.
• Scanlan chipped in 11 points for Bryant, also blocking a pair of shots.

GAME NOTES

• Holloway recorded her 16th double-double of the season and sixth in a row against the Terriers.
• The Bulldogs shot 60 percent from long range, their best performance from beyond the arc this season.
• Bryant moves to 8-10 in NEC play, earning the five-seed in the NEC playoffs.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will next travel to Pennsylvania to take on Sacred Heart in the first round of the NEC Tournament on Wednesday. The destination – either Robert Morris or Saint Francis U -- will be revealed on Monday following the announcement of the NCAA RPI. The Colonials and Red Flash finished the regular season tied atop the NEC standings and will need the RPI tiebreaker to determine seeding.