LOWELL, MA (Jan. 26, 2008) – Sophomore F Kelsey O’Keefe (Warren, MA) scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Bryant University defeated UMass Lowell, 60-51, Saturday afternoon in a Northeast-10 women’s basketball clash at the Costello Athletic Center.

With the loss, UML slipped to 9-10 overall and 4-10 in the Conference entering Wednesday’s clash at Southern New Hampshire (5:30). Bryant improved to 13-6 overall and 8-6 in the NE-10 and hosts Saint Anselm Wednesday (5:30).

Junior F Antonnea Robinson (West Haven, CT) led UML with 13 points and five rebounds while shooting 6 for 8 from the field. Junior C Revital Carmon (Bat-Yam, Israel) chipped in eight points and six rebounds.

Freshman F Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, NY) added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Bryant forced UML into 19 turnovers while committing only eight, which enabled the Bulldogs to outscore UML off turnovers, 24-6.

Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half – Bryant .281 (9-32) and UML .379 (11-29) – but the Bulldogs found their touch in the second half, shooting .467 (14-30) while UML shot .269 (7-26).

Trailing 29-27 early in the second half, Bryant opened the gap with a 16-2 run to post a 43-31 cushion 13:07 left to play. O’Keefe led the run with six points while Bennett added a pair of layups.

UML battled back with a 10-2 spurt – led by five points from junior F Bridgette Hooker (Belmont, NH) – to cut the lead to 45-41 with 9:21 left to play. The Bulldogs led 49-45 and put the game away with an 8-0 spurt, led by four points from freshman G Kelli Reynolds (Milford, CT), to post a 57-45 cushion with 3:28 left to play.

UML led at the break 27-25.