Cold Shooting Dooms Women's Basketball In ECC Opener At Dowling

Oakdale, N.Y.-The University of Bridgeport women's basketball team dropped a 57-46 decision to the host Dowling College Golden Lions in the Purple Knights' 2011-12 East Coast Conference opener on a rainy Wednesday night on Long Island.  With the loss, UB's third in a row, Bridgeport is now 1-7 overall and 0-1 in conference action.  Dowling remains unbeaten on the season at 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the ECC.  Bridgeport was ice cold from the floor all night long shooting only 26 percent from the floor (20 of 78), including hitting only one of 14 three-point shots.  The Golden Lions went 23 of 49 from the floor which is respectable 47 percent.

After a slow start which saw the Purple Knights down 7-0, UB came back to grab a 15-9 lead midway through the first half before Dowling closed out the first 20 minutes on an 18-7 run to take a 27-22 halftime lead.

DC opened the second half on 13-4 run which upped the Golden Lions lead to 40-26 with 13:23 to play, and the Purple Knights never challenged for the rest of the contest.

Junior Tanisha Carter (E. Hartford, Conn.) led the Purple Knights with a double-double scoring 13 points and grabbing 13 rebounds.  Tanisha was joined in double figures by sophomore Aziza Patterson (Teaneck, N.J.) with 11 points, and she added seven steals.

Dowling was led by three players, Connie Simmons, Seja Gamble and Christine Varrelle, who each scored 12 points.

The Purple Knights will look to get back in the win column on Tuesday night when they host a non-conference tilt with Stonehill College.  Game time in Hubbell Gym is set for 7:00 p.m.