Team Effort and Stifling Defense Key Firebirds’ 8th Straight Win, 68-43 vs. Bridgeport

WASHINGTON, DC – Nine players in the scoring column including four in double-figures, coupled with a superb defensive effort holding the Purple Knights to 26-percent FG shooting led to the University of the District of Columbia women's basketball team earning its 8^th straight win, 68-43 over University of Bridgeport in East Coast Conference play at UDC Gym Wednesday night.

Senior guard Tajruba Baldwin-Kollore led all scorers with 16 points while also snatching a game-high five steals. Baldwin-Kollore was one of five Firebirds with multiple steals as UDC combined for 17 steals as a team and forced a total of 28 Purple Knights turnovers on the night. The Firebirds cashed in for 24 points off of those turnovers.

Other key performers for UDC, which improved to 10-3 overall and 5-0 in league play, were senior forward Iman Scott with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, and senior forward Tatyana Calhoun's 10 points and eight rebounds.

Bridgeport (4-9, 2-3 ECC) was led offensively by Briana Stoddart's nine points, and had a team-high 10 rebounds by forward Blevie Lucchesi.

Both teams sputtered offensively early on as they combined for eight turnovers and only three shot attempts in the first 2:30. The Purple Knights were first to break out as they opened on an 8-0 run helped by a three-pointer apiece by Stoddart and Kadijah Dickson. The Firebirds would respond by closing out the final 5:55 on a 14-4 run helped by four points apiece from Calhoun and Scott. A layup by junior transfer forward Jenka Stiasna gave UDC its first lead in the closing seconds, as the Firebirds had a 14-12 advantage at the end of the first period.

Junior transfer guard Brandi Henton scored five of her 11 points off the bench in a one-minute span as she made a jump shot and a three-pointer in successive possessions to extend the UDC lead to 19-12 two minutes into the 2^nd period. The Firebirds' defense kept the Purple Knights in check by forcing six turnovers and holding the guests to 4-of-15 FG shooting, as Bridgeport managed only eight points in the 2^nd quarter. A three-pointer by Iman Scott near the one-minute mark gave UDC its largest lead of the half, 28-18, and the Firebirds would take a 28-20 lead into intermission.

The Firebirds continued to play suffocating defense in the 3^rd quarter, as they held Bridgeport without a field goal and only two made free-throws for 7:12. Meanwhile, UDC scored 12 points and opened up a comfortable, 40-22 lead near the three-minute mark.  Following UB's first bucket of the period by Morgen Caution, Stiasna and senior guard Myla Somerville made back-to-back three-pointers to extend the Firebirds' lead to 46-24 with 1:17 left in the period. The Purple Knights closed the period on a 7-0 run, however, and cut the deficit to 15, 46-31.

UDC had no let-up in the 4^th quarter as the Firebirds opened on a 14-4 run to push their lead to its biggest differential of the night,60-35. The hosts would then coast to a 68-43 victory.

Next up, the Firebirds will visit league foe Dowling on Saturday, January 9^th at 1 p.m.