PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities and offensive rebounds, the Providence Friars grinded out a 62-53 victory over the previously surging Bryant Bulldogs in a non-conference women’s basketball game Sunday at Dunkin’ Center.

The contest, played on Nov. 30, 2025, saw both teams labor offensively, but Providence’s dominance on the glass and ability to capitalize at the free-throw line proved to be the difference. The Friars improved their record to 6-2, while the Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 7-1.

Providence’s Sabou Gueye, a guard from Dakar, Senegal, led all scorers with 18 points, adding four rebounds and two blocks. Her backcourt mate, Payton Dunbar from Narrows, Virginia, provided a crucial scoring punch with 15 points. The interior was controlled by Teneisia Brown of Montego Bay, Jamaica, who hauled in a game-high 14 rebounds to go with eight points.

Bryant was led by a double-double from Nia Scott of Medford Lakes, New Jersey, who posted 12 points and 11 rebounds in 40 minutes of action. Mia Mancini of Mansfield, Massachusetts, was the Bulldogs’ primary offensive engine, scoring 16 points and dishing out four assists.

The game was a rock fight from the opening tip. Both teams shot under 38 percent from the floor, with Bryant converting 21 of 56 attempts and Providence making 23 of 62. The three-point line was not a major factor, as each team made five shots from deep.

The critical disparity came in two areas: second-chance points and free throws. Providence crushed Bryant on the offensive glass, securing 13 offensive rebounds compared to the Bulldogs’ seven. This relentless effort generated extra possessions and limited Bryant’s opportunities to build momentum.

At the charity stripe, the Friars attempted 16 free throws, making 11. Bryant, by contrast, only went to the line eight times, converting six. This eight-point advantage from the line was more than enough to account for the final margin of victory in such a low-scoring affair.

The first half was a testament to the defensive intensity. After a slow start from both sides, Bryant managed to build a small lead late in the first quarter, capped by a Martina Boba three-pointer that made it 8-1. However, Providence closed the period on a 14-0 run, fueled by Gueye and Dunbar, to take a 15-8 lead into the second quarter.

Bryant chipped away in the second period, with Scott and Mancini working to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance. The Friars maintained their advantage, heading into halftime with a 32-25 lead.

The third quarter saw Providence extend its lead to as many as 13 points, but Bryant refused to fold. The Bulldogs’ defense forced several turnovers, and a late layup by Mancini cut the deficit to 51-48 heading into the final frame.

In the fourth quarter, every possession was a battle. With just over a minute remaining, a three-pointer from Bryant’s Izzy Adams brought the Bulldogs to within two points at 58-56, applying immense pressure on the home team.

Providence responded at the line. Brown and Princess Moody combined to make four crucial free throws in the final 21 seconds to seal the game, as Bryant’s attempts to answer with quick scores fell short in the closing moments.

Beyond the standout performers, Providence’s Ashley Dinges of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was a force defensively and on the boards, finishing just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. For Bryant, Boba, from Argentona, Spain, added eight points.

The game’s tempo was deliberate, with Bryant using 67 possessions and Providence using 70. The offensive ratings reflected the struggle, with the Bulldogs posting a 79.3 and the Friars an 89.1. Providence also held advantages in points in the paint, 32-24, and points off turnovers, 15-11.

The loss snaps a seven-game winning streak to open the season for Bryant, which had been dominating opponents, including an 83-56 road win at Boston University in its previous outing. Providence, coming off a split in a recent road trip, secured a key victory to build momentum as it heads into a tougher stretch of its schedule.