Bridgeport (5-10, 3-6 ECC)  32-41—73

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Junior Jenna Hoffman (Manchester Center, Vt.) netted 14 points and sophomore Shannon Holt (Holden, Mass.) added 13 points and eight rebounds to lead the University of Bridgeport to a 73-59 victory over Daemen College here today in East Coast Conference women's basketball action. Bridgeport improved to 5-10 overall and 3-6 in the league, while Daemen dropped to 4-12 overall and 1-9 in the league.

Sophomore Raeann Stilwell (Cheektowaga, N.Y./St. Mary's of Lancaster) drained three three-pointers and scored a game-high 17 points for Daemen. Senior Lindsay Stoddard (Limestone, N.Y./Allegany-Limestone) recorded her fifth double-double of the year and finished with 14 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Freshman Leah McDonell (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Cardinal O'Hara) chipped in five points and a season-high 13 rebounds for the Wildcats.

Bridgeport led by just three points, 32-29, at the half, but the Purple Knights opened the second half with 14 unanswered points. Back-to-back three-pointers by Hoffman and freshman Louise Ovner (Vallentuna, Sweden) capped the run and gave the hosts a 46-29 lead with 15:46 left to play. The Purple Knights held a 59-44 lead midway through the second half when the Wildcats cut the lead to single digits following back-to-back three-pointers by freshman Natalie Galus (Hamburg, N.Y./Frontier) and Stilwell. Daemen would come no closer, as the Purple Knights answered with a 9-0 run and regained an 18-point lead, 68-50, following a jumper by junior Tiara Aziz (Easton, Pa.) with just under six minutes to play.

A tightly played first half featured eight ties and five lead changes. Bridgeport took the largest lead of the half, 16-10, following a three-pointer by senior Colleen Preusse (Danbury, Conn.) with 12:43 left in the first half. Daemen responded with an 8-2 run and knotted the game at 18-18 following a Stilwell layup three minutes later. Neither team led by more than three points after that until the Purple Knights got six-straight points and took a 32-27 lead with less than a minute left in the half. Daemen closed out the half with a jumper by Stoddard with nine seconds left before intermission and Bridgeport took a 32-29 lead into the break.

Daemen attempted 33 three-pointers in the game and made just five (1-for-12 in the first half). Bridgeport shot 44-percent (28-for-76) from the field overall and connected on 5-of-10 from downtown in the second half. The Purple Knights also posted a 28-10 advantage in points-in-the-paint and a 40-7 edge in bench scoring.

Daemen is idle until next weekend when it begins a stretch of seven-straight home games. The Wildcats host St. Thomas Aquinas College Friday (Jan. 24) at 5 p.m. and Mercy College Sunday (Jan. 26) at 1 p.m.

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