Hudson's Amanda Torres, shown during the Wildcats' season opener at BU earlier this week, had a career high 20 points but UNH fell short at Bryant University on Friday. (Photo courtesy of University of New Hampshre)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – A local connection almost worked on Friday afternoon for the University of New Hampshire women’s basketball team.

Hudson’s Amanda Torres tried to get Nashua’s Kelsey Hogan her first career win as the Wildcats’ permanent coach, but the Cats fell short, 75-72 at the hands of Bryant University.

Torres scored a career-high 20 points to lead four double-digit scorers, but UNH had two 3-point field-goal attempts rim out in the final minute at the Chace Athletic Center

Torres paced UNH (0-2) with eight field goals (in 17 attempts) and four assists to go along with 4-for-5 free-throw shooting and two steals in a team-leading 39 minutes, but her on-target 3 rimmed out with 51 seconds left and the ‘Cats trailing 73-72.

The Wildcats never led in the fourth quarter but were within one point on seven different occasions.

Hogan, who at 30 is the youngest Division I head coach in the country, will now look for her first win next Saturday when UNH hosts NJIT in their America East opener at Lundholm Gym, time TBA.

Ivy Gogolin (Hopkinton, Mass.) was a near-perfect 7 of 8 from the foul line and finished with 15 points, six rebounds and two steals. Helena Delaruelle (Enghien-Les-Bains, France) scored 14 points (6-12 FG, 2-2 FT) pulled down seven rebounds and added two steals and two assists.

Brooke Kane (Derry), who entered the game with three career blocks, blocked four shots, equaled a career high with 10 points (4-8 FG, 1-2 3pt FG, 1-3 FT), and set career bests in rebounds (6), assists (2) and steals (2).

The Wildcats’ freshman class continued to impress; Adara Groman (Hopkinton, Mass.), who started for the second straight game, corralled a team-best nine rebounds and scored four points, while Paige Cote (Sanford, Maine) tallied seven points, including 1-for-3 from 3-point distance, and three rebounds.

With seven seconds left, Cote’s open 3-point look from the left wing went halfway down before falling out to allow Bryant (1-1) to hang on for the home victory.

For the victorious Bulldogs, Brooke Bjelko had 21 points and 16 rebounds, Alana Perkins added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Nicole Gallagher contributed 13 points and six boards.

(Telegraph staff writer Tom King contributed to this report).

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