Women’s Basketball Bests Bryant in Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament, 56-50

Sunday, December 8

Smithfield, R.I.

12:00 PM

Brown University

4-6,0-0Ivy League

Bryant

1-8,0-0NEC

Bryant

Brown

Women’s Basketball Bests Bryant in Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament, 56-50

12/8/2019 2:44:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior guard Justine Gaziano scored 14 points, junior guard McKenna Dale netted 12 points, and freshman guard Maddie Mullin tallied 11 points as Brown University women's basketball topped Bryant University, 56-50, on Sunday afternoon in the consolation game of the fourth annual Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament.

Playing at Bryant's Chace Athletic Center, the Bears (4-6) used an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter – and held the host Bulldogs (1-8) without a point for over seven minutes during the streak – to turn a 43-40 deficit with 7:57 to play into a 51-43 advantage with 58.4 seconds remaining.

"It's great to close the weekend with a win," Brown head coach Sarah Behn said. "We played solid defense, especially during the fourth quarter, and shot the ball well from the free throw line. This is a good way for us to go into a break before we face Fairfield in two weeks."

Gaziano (Natick, Mass.) made 6-of-7 free throws as part of her 14-point effort and added four rebounds. She scored in double figures for the sixth time this year and 74^th time in her career. Gaziano now has 277 career free throws made, moving into fifth place in program history and passing Michelle Pagliaro '94.

An All-Tournament Team selection, Dale (Storrs, Conn.) netted 4-of-8 field goals on her way to her 12 points and third double-figure scoring performance of the year. She chipped in four rebounds and two assists, while averaging 10.0 points per game on the weekend.

Mullin (Wellesley, Mass.) connected on 3-of-4 3-pointers and 2-of-2 free throws for her 11 points – her third double-figure scoring game of the season. She tacked on four rebounds and two steals.

Sophomore forward Ashley Ducharme (Milton, Mass.) grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and averaged 10.0 rebounds per game on the weekend after corralling 10 rebounds vs. URI on Saturday. She chipped in four points vs. Bryant.

Senior center Haley Green (Salem, Va.) finished with six rebounds and four points, and freshman forward Fiona Finn (West Roxbury, Mass.) compiled four points, three boards, and three assists.

The Bears improved to 6-2 all-time in Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament play behind 17-of-20 shooting from the free throw line (85.0 percent). Brown hit 12-of-14 free throws in the fourth quarter, including 7-of-8 in the final minute.

Brown opened the game with a 12-6 lead at the 3:03 mark of the first quarter as Gaziano scored four points, and Ducharme, sophomore forward Alana Kelley (Phoenix, Ariz.), and Finn all scored baskets. A jumper from junior guard Dominique Leonidas (Stone Mountain, Ga.) kept Brown ahead 14-10 at the end of the first frame.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Dale and Mullin pushed Brown ahead 20-13 with 4:41 to go in the second quarter. Despite a layup from Gaziano, Bryant used a 12-2 run to pull ahead 25-22. Another layup from Gaziano brought the Bears within 25-24 of the Bulldogs at the break.

A layup from Green and 3-pointer from Dale pushed Brown ahead 29-25 early in the third quarter before the Bulldogs used a 9-0 run to gain a 34-29 edge with 5:02 left in the stanza. A 3-point play from Gaziano, jumper from Ducharme, and back-to-back treys from Mullin gave Brown back a 40-38 advantage late in the quarter. Bryant led 41-40 heading to the fourth.

After Bryant moved ahead 43-40 early in the fourth quarter, Brown responded with an 11-0 run and held the Bulldogs without a point for over seven minutes, gaining a 51-43 lead with 58.4 seconds left. Dale scored six of the Bears' first eight points during the run. In the fourth quarter, Brown connected on 12-of-14 free throws, including 7-of-8 shots inside of the final minute.

For Bryant, Brooke Bjelko tallied 13 points and six rebounds, Alana Perkins netted nine points on a trio of 3-pointers, Trinity Bravo snared eight rebounds, and Masey Zegarowski distributed a game-high six assists.

Next, Brown breaks for finals before playing at Fairfield on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+).

2019 Ocean State Tip-Off All-Tournament Team
MVP: Mary Baskerville, Providence College
Earlette Scott, Providence College
Erin Jones, University of Rhode Island
Marta Vargas, University of Rhode Island
McKenna Dale, Brown University
Masey Zegarowski, Bryant University

Video of all Brown women's basketball home contests and all Ivy League games, home and away, will be broadcast live on ESPN+.

Tickets for all Brown women's basketball games can be purchased online, by calling the Brown Athletics Ticket Office at (401) 863-2773, or by walking up to the box office located in the Pizzitola Sports Center, open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.