Bobcats Open 2020 with 2-1 Road Run

The Bobcats picked up in right where they left off in 2019, opening 2020 with a 2-1 record in a trio of games in the first week of the new year.

Bryant & Stratton College kicked off their January schedule at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, falling 68-84 in a hard-fought battle against the Pioneers.

It was a game of two halves as the Bobcats carried a 33-26 lead into the half only to see the Pioneers overcome a cold run of shooting to rally for the win in the second half. Perhaps the defining moment of the Point Park comeback was erasing a 12-point deficit in the third quarter that included a deep three pointer from Michelle Burns at the end of the third quarter that made the score 48-45.

Point Park’s run extended into the fourth quarter, where they’d eventually open a 62-56 lead before the Bobcats were able to regain their footing. A few key baskets brought the score to 62-61 with time winding down, but the Pioneers free throw shooters were on point as the Bobcats began to foul with time winding down. The clutch foul shooting kept the Pioneers just out of reach, handing the Bobcats the four-point loss.  

The Bobcats would bounce back the following day, taking a thrilling double-overtime decision from Carlow University on January 4.

It wasn’t an easy task for the Bobcats, as early foul trouble forced head coach Sean Knorr to use his bench in a different manner. Already playing without Sheila Hawkes, the Bobcats eventually lost Dorian Sharp and Adriana Gunkel in the third quarter against Carlow, further shortening their bench.

Bryant & Stratton struggled to keep Carlow at bay for much of the first half, a run of play that included a 24-9 second quarter that saw Carlow head to the break with a 10-point lead. But the Bobcats returned the favor in the second half, holding the Celtics to just seven points in the third quarter and erasing Carlow’s halftime lead.

It was a low scoring affair throughout, with Carlow holding a 43-42 lead heading into the fourth quarter with neither team finding a shooting advantage in the fourth. With a slim, three-point lead with time winding down, the Bobcats needed to continue to flex their stout defense to come away with the win. But Carlow drained the tying basket off an inbounds play with just a few seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

Bryant & Stratton didn’t allow lightning to strike twice, however. With the score tied at 54 and just 11 second remaining in the second OT period, the Bobcats forced a turnover and scored on the fast break to seal the 56-54 win.

The Bobcats followed the OT win over Carlow with their tenth victory of the campaign, a 59-48 win over Finger Lakes Community College.

Dealing with their third of four-straight road games, Bryant & Stratton overcame the adversity of playing away from home once again with the stout defensive effort that has come to define the inaugural season.

Bryant & Stratton’s offense needed the first half to warm up, but once they did four players finished with double figures. That includes a triple-double from Dorian Sharp (16 points, 15 rebounds, 11 blocks) and a double-double from Shanell Glover (15 points, 17 rebounds). Tionnie Spain chipped in 14 points and Kadijah Jones added 11 of her own.

The offensive surge helped break open the game a bit, giving the Bobcats the 11 point margin to take home to Rochester where they’ll host Bryant & Stratton – Albany on Sunday at 3:00.