Dawgs fall to Iona 60-56 in season opener

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Alana Perkins of the Bryant University women's basketball team scored 15 points on five three-pointers, and Brooke Bjelko tallied her fourteenth career double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds in the 60-56 loss to Iona at the Chace Athletic Center.

THE PARTICULARS
Iona 60, Bryant 56
Records: Bryant (0-1, 0-0) | Iona (1-0, 0-0)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

KEY MOMENT

• Shannon O'Connor missed a three-pointer with 10 seconds left to tie the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Bulldogs got out to an 8-2 lead at the beginning of the first quarter behind two three-pointers from Nicole Gallagher.
• After a Gallagher made a free throw, the Gaels went on an 8-0 run to end the first quarter with a 15-11 lead.
• Iona jumped out to a 25-16 at the second-quarter media timeout before the Bulldogs cashed in back-to-back three-pointers from Perkins and Gallagher along with a Bjelko fastbreak bucket to cut the deficit to three (27-24). The Gaels would score four straight to end the half with a 31-25 lead.
• The Black ad Gold started the second half on fire with eight straight points to tie it up at 33. Lucie Castagne knocked down her first three of the season, Perkins joined her from behind the arc, and Bjelko scored from the paint.
• Iona responded with ten points of their own to jump out to a 43-35 lead with one minute remaining in the third quarter.
• The Bulldogs would score five points in the last minute of the third from a Bjelko layup and a Perkins three to shorten the lead to three heading into the fourth (43-40).
• Bryant was outscored 12-7 before the media timeout in the fourth quarter. The score was 53-48 with 5:45 left in the game.
• Then after a 59-52 deficit, the Bulldogs scored five straight points to cut the lead to three. Fatou Jallow drew a charge with 11 seconds to give the Black and Gold the final shot.
• O'Connor missed a three-pointer from the left wing, and Iona made one of two free throws to end the game. 

STATS

• Perkins led the Black and Gold in scoring with 15 points after going five-for-11 from three.
• Bjelko recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
• Gallagher hit double figures by posting 13 points. She went three-for-five from beyond the arc.
• Mariona Planes Fortuny and Bjelko each had two blocks.
• Perkins, Bjelko, and Fortunyall recorded a steal.
• Bryant committed 32 turnovers in today's game.

GAME NOTES

• Perkins made five three-pointers for the third time in her career.
• Bjelko now has fourteen career double-doubles. 

UP NEXT
Bryant will head to UMass Lowell on Saturday for a one o'clock tip-off.