BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, NEW YORK---The St. Francis College women’s basketball team fell to the Bryant University Bulldogs, 73-58, on Thursday evening at the Pope Physical Education Center. The Terriers are 2-26, 1-16 in NEC while the Bulldogs picked up their 13th win of the season, standing at 13-15 overall and 10-7 in conference play.
Terriers' freshman forward Autumn Lau paved the way with 15 points while junior guard Tiara Dunson chipped in 10 points. The tandem of Kelsey O’Keefe and Siamone Bennett contributed 41 of the Bulldogs 73 total points with O’Keefe leading all scorers with 22 points. Brittany Stahura grabbed a game-high 14 rebound; ten of those were on the offensive side.
The Bulldogs connected on the contests first ten points after O’Keefe’s three-pointer at the 15:33 mark in the first half. Both teams were held at a stalemate over a four minut stretch, but the Bulldogs still held a 10-4 advantage.
The Terriers mounted a comeback and ultimately took a two point lead after freshman forward Kim Snauwaert drained a long range three pointer with 3:40 to go in the first half. The Bulldogs concluded the half on a 8-0 run, taking a 29-24 lead into the intermission.
St. Francis trimmed the lead to one, 33-32 after freshman guard Stefanie Bingham connected on a lay-up opportunity at the 17:51 mark in the second half. The Bulldogs answered back, sparked by a 20-3 run over a five minute stretch to increase their lead to 62-43.
The Terriers kept pace with the Bulldogs by converting sixteen points off turnovers but the Bryant Bulldogs capitalized in the rebounding department, 54-34. The Bulldogs shot 40% from the field (24-of-60) while knocking down 19-of-31 (61.3%) from the free throw line. The Terriers found their stroke from the line, connecting on 78.9% from the charity stripe (15-of-19).
The Terriers will conclude the 2009-10 season against the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils on Saturday afternoon. It is “Senior Day” and “Fan Appreciation Day.” There will be no cover charge for admission. The festivities start at 2:00 pm.
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