Links: Box Score

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Kate Mager hit a last-second 3-pointer to force overtime at Bryant University on Wednesday night, but the Merrimack College women's basketball team faltered in the extra session, 83-80, against the host Bulldogs from the Chase Athletic Center. Merrimack trailed by as many as eight in the final quarter before roaring back to tie the game in the waning seconds of regulation.

The Warriors held Bryant without a field goal in the fourth quarter's final two minutes, using a 7-2 run to tie the game. In overtime, Bryant built a six-point lead by the final minute. Senior Mayson Kimball hit a triple with 28 seconds remaining to cut the deficit in half, but Bryant held on from there to secure the win.

Kimball led all scorers with 22 points, one of five Warriors to score in double figures. Mager finished with 15 points and three 3-pointers while sophomore Jayme DeCesare posted 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Bryant was paced by Brooke Bjelko and Fatou Jallo, who scored 19 points apiece.

The Basics
Score (OT): Bryant 83, Merrimack 80
Records: Merrimack (3-8, 3-8 NEC) | Bryant (6-7, 4-5 NEC)
Location: Smithfield, R.I. | Chase Athletic Center

Rapid Recap

• After Bryant started the game with a 5-2 lead, Merrimack scored four quick points to grab its first advantage of the night. That was the first of five lead changes in the first quarter as neither team led by more than four points in the opening 10 minutes. Down two with 1:38 left on the clock, sophomore Alana Fursman hit a 3-pointer for her second bucket of the frame to make it a 17-16 game in favor of Merrimack. The Warriors took that one-point lead into the second quarter
• Bryant started the second on an 11-4 run to take a 27-21 lead at the 5:13 mark of the second. Merrimack responded with 10 straight points including back-to-back 3-pointers from DeCesare to grab a 31-27 advantage with under three minutes to go in the quarter. The Bulldogs had one more push, however, ending the second on a 7-2 spurt to take a 34-33 halftime lead
• More back-and-forth action occurred in the third quarter. The contest was tied three different times in the quarter's first five minutes. With the score knotted at 47 with 3:40 remaining, the Bulldogs broke free with the final four points of the frame to take a 51-47 edge entering the fourth
• Bryant led by as many as eight points in the fourth, 61-53, with 6:26 left in regulation. Merrimack burst on an 8-0 run to tie the game, with senior Alyssa Casey hitting two triples to bring the score even. The Bulldogs responded with an 8-3 stretch to increase their lead to five, 69-64, with 2:04 on the clock, but Merrimack's final push occurred there. Kimball hit back-to-back jumpers that preceded Mager's game-tying 3-pointer to force the final five minutes
• Kimball's bucket at the 2:14 mark in overtime kept it at a one-possession game, 77-75, but Bryant scored the next four points to create a large enough cushion. Merrimack had a chance to tie the game during its final possession, but could not get a shot off in time

Notes and Numbers

• Kimball has three 20-point games over her last five overall. During that stretch, she's averaging 18.2 points per game while shooting 46.1 percent (35-76) from the field and 44.8 percent (13-29) from beyond the arc
• DeCesare set a new career high with nine rebounds. Over her last three games, the second-year guard is averaging 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists per game
• Fursman set a season high with 13 points and hit five of her first six shots
• Merrimack made 12 3-pointers compared to only four for Bryant. The Warriors have made at least nine triples in each of their last five games
• Bryant controlled the paint, however, outscoring Merrimack, 44-26
• Sophomore Diamond Christian totaled five steals

Up Next
The Warriors will be off until next Wednesday when Merrimack hosts Mount St. Mary's at Hammel Court.