Women's Basketball Upended at Bryant, 55-42

Sunday, December 20

Smithfield, R.I.

1 PM

University of New Hampshire

6-5

Bryant University

3-7

New Hampshire

Bryant

Photo by: Greg Greene

12/20/2015 2:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior guard Elizabeth Belanger (Acton, Mass.) posted a game-high 15 points, but the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team suffered a 55-42 non-conference setback to Bryant University at Chace Athletic Center on Sunday afternoon.

UNH's overall record drops to 6-5 on the season. Bryant snaps a five-game skid and improves to 3-5.

Sophomore center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) pitched in nine points to bolster the offense. Senior forward Corinne Coia (North Smithfield, R.I.) turned in eight points and eight rebounds. Junior guard Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) matched her career-high with four steals while chipping in five points.

Senior forward Breanna Rucker posted a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds. Junior forward Alex Klien registered eight points and seven rebounds. Sophomore guard Ivory Bailey posted seven points, four rebounds, four steals and three assists.

UNH prevailed in steals (11-8) and points off turnovers (23-8). The Bulldogs outrebounded the Wildcats by a 43-33 margin.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 4-0 lead out of the chute as Belanger and Pogue notched baskets. However, Bailey and Rucker tallied scores to quickly knot the score at 4-4 with 5:04 left in the first quarter. After trading 3-pointers the Bulldogs stringed together a 6-2 run to end the opening stanza as the home team led 14-9.

The Bryant defense stymied the New Hampshire offense in the second quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to carry over their scoring surge. The home team rattled off 13 consecutive points before Coia snapped the Bryant run with a pair of free throws made at the 1:32 mark. Senior center Maureen Lahey capped off the second quarter with a layup as New Hampshire looked up at a 31-11 deficit entering the locker rooms.

Rucker started the scoring the third stanza, knocking down both of her free throws. UNH responded immediately with a made basket by Pogue while fouled. She completed the three-point play as the Wildcats trailed the Bulldogs 33-14 with 8:49 left in the third quarter. Pogue poured in another basket, bringing the Bryant lead down to 17 points, but the home team generated a 5-0 scoring flurry to lead 40-16 at the 5:23 mark. After trading scores, Dani Anderson drilled a trey to extend the Bulldogs lead to 45-20 with 3:02 showing on the clock in the third stanza. UNH attacked the Bryant defense, getting to the line. Free throws by Stephanie Spoto (Pittsford, N.Y.) and Belanger whittled the gap down to 45-26 entering the final 10 minutes of play.

The 'Cats aimed to rally in the final quarter and tried to narrow the double digit deficit. However, the Bulldogs were able to match the scoring, keeping their lead. Despite an 8-0 run in the last 3:37 of regulation, Bryant preserved its double-digit cushion the rest of the way and gave UNH the 55-42 loss.

UNH plays its third game of the five-game road swing at the University of North Carolina on Tuesday, Dec. 29 (2 p.m.). New Hampshire returns to Lundholm Gymnasium to host the University at Albany for Education Day on Wednesday, Jan. 13 (12 p.m.). For tickets, please visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-4000.

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