SMITHFIELD, R.I. (1/5/09) -  Tayler Wejnert (Ramsey, N.J.) led all scorers with 17 points, but the Colgate University women's basketball team fell, 63-53, to Bryant on Monday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

Sami Kozlowski (New Market, Md.) added 14 points for the Raiders and Tricia Oakes (Evergreen, Colo.) led all players on the boards with 11 rebounds.  Cara Johnson led the Bulldogs with 16 points.

The two teams opened the first half with high-intensity play on both ends of the court, but the Bulldogs were still able to grab an early, 13-7 lead after gaining six points from in the paint.  The Raiders responded with a 12-5 run, during which they held Bryant scoreless for over four minutes.

With 4:03 left in the half, Candice Green (East Brunswick, N.J.) drove to the basket, making the lay-up and drawing the foul for the three point play to bring the Raiders within two.  Kozlowski then tied the game at 26 with 3:14 on the clock, but the Bulldog's Kristin Mraz knocked down a three-pointer to send Colgate into the half-time break down 31-28.

Colgate shot 36.4 percent from the field in the first half and hit 8-12 shots from the free throw line.  The Bulldogs finished the half with 46.2 percent shooting and edged out the Raiders in rebounding 17-15.

The Raiders prevented Bryant from building a lead in the opening minutes of the second half, giving Oakes a chance to tie the game after being fouled on a good jumper.  Oakes missed the free throw, but Krista Moser (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) grabbed the rebound and put it back up to give Colgate its first lead of the second half 38-37, with just over 14 minutes remaining.  

The Bulldogs fought back to gain a six point advantage, but the Raiders never gave up, and were able to cut the lead to one again with a long range basket from Wejnert with just under six minutes left in the game.  Bryant however, got back-to-back three-pointers from Kelsey O'Keefe as they went on to win the game 63-53.

Colgate finished with 33.9 percent shooting from the field (21-62) and 52.6 percent (10-19) from the charity stripe in the game.  Bryant shot 44.3 percent overall and finished with a slight lead in rebounds 44-40. 

The Raiders will host their conference opener this weekend, Jan. 10 against Army as they return to Cotterrell Court.  Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.

Box Score