LATE WEDNESDAY: Bryant steamrolls past Fisher
Bulldogs (6-5) have eyes on conference action
SMITHFIELD – The temptation when on the right side of a mismatch like this is to take some liberties.
Bryant’s women were never in any danger of losing to Fisher College.
This was a Division I program hosting an opponent outside its class.
The Bulldogs were looking to retain some sharpness with the exam break slowing the schedule to a relative crawl.
Bryant banked the expected victory Wednesday night at Chace Athletic Center. More importantly, the Bulldogs did it the right way. They took good shots, avoided sloppy turnovers and defended well throughout in a 93-20 win.
“Go out and do what we do,” Bryant coach LynneAnn Kokoski said. “I wanted to see a lot of the details — discipline, execution on the defensive side. That’s really what we talked about every timeout.
“Details matter.”
The Falcons shot just 21.3% and didn’t connect on any of their eight 3-point attempts. They committed 29 turnovers and came up short of double digits in each quarter.
Bryant put five players in double figures, shot 50.7%
Bryant head coach Lynne-Ann Kokoski says “details matter” to her and her players.
and racked up 31 assists on 38 field goals.
The Bulldogs lost four straight to end November. They’ve now captured three in a row leading into some academic focus and a road date with Boston College next Wednesday.
It’s needed confidence with America East play and a Jan. 4 date at Albany fast approaching.
“I don’t care who we’re playing,” Kokoski said. “If it’s ourselves in practice, if it’s Fisher College, if it’s Albany next week or Boston College — you approach every game, every practice and prep the same way. That’s what I’m trying to instill in them right now.”
Bryant (6-5) pitched an 18-0 shutout through the opening 6:48.
Mariona Planes Fortuny’s layup capped the opening run and Fisher (1-13) never had a chance of responding. Mia Mancini and Nia Scott shared game-high scoring honors with 12 points apiece while Planes Fortuny, Silvia Gonzalez and Alejandra Ferreiros each chipped in 11.
“People can get their feet wet,” Kokoski said. “You can see what they do.
“My big thing today was challenging them defensively. Not walking around. Doing all the little things. Talking.”
The Bulldogs played 10 games in the first calendar month of the season — they’ll play just five between Dec. 6 and Jan. 6, and only three of those were set to follow a road win at Loyola (Md).
That’s why Bryant decided to reach beyond its peers at the top level and buy a couple of extra home games against manageable foes. Kokoski expects some extra focus in the gym after her team takes care of its work in the classroom.
“Winter session can be a time where you can really take some strides developing your game,” Kokoski said. “People who want to put in the work, it can be nothing else but basketball. It’s a great time to work on your skill set.” bkoch@providencejournal.com
On X: @BillKoch25