UNH Toppled by Bryant in Conference Opener

Thursday, January 1

Smithfield, R.I.

6 PM

University of New Hampshire

6-8,0-1America East

Bryant

11-3,1-0America East

New Hampshire

Bryant

Photo by: Kallie Gagne

1/1/2026 9:04:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior guard Eva DeChent (Westchester, N.Y.) scored a game-high 15 points but the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team was toppled 45-31 by Bryant University in Thursday night's America East conference opener at Chace Athletic Center.

Freshman guard Carolina Williams (Valatie, N.Y.) scored a career-high eight points. Senior forward Lucia Melero Sabat (Barcelona, Spain) finished with nine rebounds and four blocks to match her career high in rebounds and set a personal best in blocks.

DeChent also had seven rebounds and two blocks.

Bryant was led by Maranda Nyborg's double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. Mia Mancini had 11 points, seven rebounds and game-high three assists.

UNH, which entered the game on a three-game winning streak, is now 6-8 overall and 0-1 in the conference. Bryant is 11-3, 1-0.

UP NEXT

UNH returns to action Saturday, Jan. 3 (2pm) at the University of Vermont.
The Wildcats' next home game is Jan. 8 (6pm) against NJIT. There will be a pre-game Chalk Talk with head coach Megan Shoniker and it is Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night.
CLICK HERE to buy tickets online for any UNH home game -- including Lundhholm Loft, where you can enjoy elevated drinks and eats in elevated seats -- or call (603) 862-4000.

FIRST QUARTER

UNH took a 4-0 lead on baskets by Elizabeth Lavoie (Hampstead, N.H.) at 9:16 and DeChent at 8:51.
Bryant responded with a 9-0 run to build a 9-4 advantage at 4:00.
DeChent's free throws at 3:01 and layup at 1:21 lifted the Wildcats within one point, 9-8.

SECOND QUARTER

DeChent scored the first points of the second quarter on a pair of foul shots at 9:34, then Camryn Fauria (North Attleborough, Mass.) banked in a shot from the right blocks at 7:06 and Williams hit a 3-pointer from the left wing at 6:15 to put UNH back in front, 15-11.
Bryant scored the next six points to regain the lead, 17-15, at 3:22.
Williams made a pair of free throws to tie the game, 17-17, at 3:03 and DeChent's layup gave the Wildcats a 19-18 lead at 2:14.
Izzy Adams' 3-pointer with 35 seconds on the clock gave the Bulldogs a 21-19 lead through 20 minutes.

THIRD QUARTER

UNH trimmed the deficit to one point twice – 25-24 on a DeChent foul shot at 5:41 and then 30-29 Williams' three-point play at 2:14 – in the third quarter.
Bryant scored the last four points of the quarter to take a 34-29 lead through 30 minutes.

FOURTH QUARTER

Bryant inched ahead to a 41-29 lead before DeChent scored UNH's first points of the fourth quarter with a pair of free throws at 2:43.
The Bulldogs outscored the Wildcats 4-0 the rest of the way.

UNH NOTEBOOK

Melero Sabat matched her career high of nine rebounds established Feb. 6, 2025 at UMBC.
She surpassed her previous benchmark of two blocks set Feb. 20, 2025 vs. Binghamton University.
Williams surpassed her previous best of five points, which she scored three times.
Maggie Cavanaugh (Point Pleasant Beach, N.J.) matched her season high of seven rebounds.
UNH made 12 of 13 free throws (92.3%).