Bulldogs fall, 53-47, Thursday night

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team fell to Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday night, 53-47.

Senior Brooke Bjelko and Kandis Taylor led tonight as Bjelko was the lone Bulldog to post double-figures with 17 points. Taylor posted eight points, five assists, and three rebounds.

THE PARTICULARS
Fairleigh Dickinson 53, Bryant 47
Records: Bryant (7-13, 5-11) | FDU (15-7, 11-6)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

KEY MOMENT

• Bryant was unable to hit a three tonight, which hindered the Bulldogs in the six-point loss. The Bulldogs shot 0-for-17 from behind the arc.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bulldogs were fighting an uphill battle when FDU's Devyn Scott notched a transition-layup to help the Knights to an 11-2 lead with three minutes to go in the first quarter.
• FDU held Bryant to just two field goals in the first frame for a 15.4% FG mark. The Bulldogs went on to finish the quarter with six points compared to FDU's 13.
• Despite the Knight growing to their largest lead of the night, 20-10, at the start of the second quarter, Bryant poured in its best offensive performance of the night with 16 points. The Bulldogs chipped away at the FDU lead and pulled within four at the halftime break, 26-22.
• The senior duo of Bjelko and Taylor tied the game on two occasions to kick off the second half, but Fairleigh Dickinson scored six-straight to take back the advantage.
• Bjelko pulled down an offensive rebound and laid it back in for two to cut FDU's lead to just two, 36-34, as the two teams headed into the fourth quarter.
• The fourth quarter showed back-and-forth scoring as the Bulldogs were unable to catch the Knights. Eight of FDU's 17 fourth-quarter points came from the stripe as they held on, 53-47.

STATS

• Bjelko led with 17 points off seven-of-11 shooting and a three-of-five mark from the foul line. She also pulled down eight rebounds.
• Taylor posted eight points shooting four-of-13 from the field. The senior also dished out five assists and pulled down three rebounds.
• Nicole Gallagher has an all-around night as she posted a stat line of eight rebounds, six points, four assists, and three steals.
• Shannon O'Connor, Alana Perkins, and Juliette Golden all added four points each.
• Perkins tallied three steals.
• The Bulldogs did not hit a single three, shooting 0-for-17 from behind the arc. The team finished the game with a 35.5 FG percentage (21-59), and went five-of-seven from the stripe.
• Bryant outrebounded FDU by one, 34-33.

GAME NOTES

• The last time Bryant didn't hit a three in a single-game was last season at Merrimack. The Bulldogs went 0-for-3.
• Bryant still holds the all-time series record against FDU, 16-8, and 7-6 in Smithfield.

UP NEXT
Bryant closes the 2020-21 season tomorrow night against Fairleigh Dickinson at 4 p.m. for Senior Day.