SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — Deziree' Bryant scored 12 points and
Samara Douglas recorded seven steals, but Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College fell to Rose-Hulman 54-40 Monday night in the Crosstown Classic at the Jeanne Knoerle Sports and Recreation Center.
The Pomeroys dropped to 0-5, while Rose-Hulman improved to 2-0.
Bryant knocked down three 3-pointers and added five assists, three rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot. Douglas finished with nine points and five rebounds to go with her seven steals, helping SMWC force 20 turnovers.
Aubrey Ervin led the Pomeroys with eight rebounds, including four on the offensive glass, and added two steals.
Nadiya Figures contributed four points and six rebounds, while
Elayni Stone finished with six points, five rebounds and two assists.
Douglas scored SMWC's first three points, and Bryant's free throw tied the game at 4 with 7:04 remaining in the opening quarter. Rose-Hulman answered with a 13-0 run before
Confidence Nwachukwu's putback ended the stretch. Bryant connected from beyond the arc with 22 seconds left to bring the Pomeroys within 20-9 after one quarter.
Bryant hit another 3-pointer early in the second, and Figures scored inside with 6:47 remaining to cut the deficit to 24-14. The Fightin' Engineers closed the half with 10 unanswered points to take a 34-14 lead into the break.
SMWC held Rose-Hulman to eight points in the third quarter but matched that total offensively. After falling behind 42-16, the Pomeroys scored the quarter's final six points, getting a Douglas layup and free throws from
Talyssa Moody and Bryant.
The Pomeroys carried that momentum into the fourth. Douglas opened the scoring with a layup, and Ervin made two free throws to complete a 10-0 run spanning the two periods and trim the margin to 42-26.
Stone later buried 3-pointers on consecutive SMWC possessions, pulling the Pomeroys within 47-32 with 5:44 remaining. Bryant added a 3-pointer, and Figures converted a pass from Bryant for a layup that made it 50-37 with 2:50 left. SMWC outscored Rose-Hulman 18-12 in the final quarter but could not close the gap.
The Pomeroys shot 25% from the field, going 13 of 52, and made six of 25 attempts from 3-point range. Rose-Hulman shot 38.5% and held a 43-36 rebounding advantage. SMWC collected 16 offensive rebounds and 12 steals.
Kaia Peterson led Rose-Hulman with 16 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Katelyn Fennell added 10 points and six rebounds.
SMWC opens River States Conference play Thursday, Nov. 12, at Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central, 7 p.m. Eastern.
