Posted: Jan 29, 2010

BULLDOGS HOST MONMOUTH AT 1PM SATURDAY IN THE CHACE CENTER

January 29, 2010

BULLDOGS HOST MONMOUTH AT 1PM SATURDAY IN THE CHACE CENTER

COACH BURKE TO REVEAL ALL-DECADE TEAM AT HALFTIME

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After being defeated by 20 points at Fairleigh Dickinson earlier in the season, the Bulldogs avenged the loss and defeated the Knights, 57-53, at home on Thursday night. Bryant returns to action on Saturday as it looks for the season sweep of Monmouth. On January 9th, the Bulldogs defeated the Hawks 72-62 on the road. Bryant, who has been a surprise in the NEC thus far, is currently tied for fourth place in the conference with a 5-4 mark against conference foe. Sacred Heart and Robert Morris sit atop the conference, each with an 8-1 record. LIU follows in third place while both the Bulldogs and the Hawks are tied for fourth place with Saint Francis (PA). This will be the second time Bryant and Monmouth have met this season and the third time overall. The series is currently level at one game apiece; however, this will be the first game of the series played in the Chace Athletic Center.

Not unlike any of the past three seasons, the Bulldogs are led by their 6-foot-1 forward, Kelsey O'Keefe. The senior is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game and has scored 1,641 points in her career, good enough for third place all-time. However, new and young faces are beginning to shine through for Bryant as it continues its march into Division I. Freshman Meredith Soper has started the last eight games for the Bulldogs and recently recorded a career-high 17-points at Quinnipiac last Thursday. Classmate Danielle Douglas has now started nine consecutive games and is recently coming off a 12-point, eight assist and eight steal night at home against Yale. She posted personal bests in both assists and steals. Her eight single-game steals is good enough for second all-time in the Bulldog record book.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Winners of four of their last five games, the Monmouthâ€ˆUniversity women's basketball team currently has an even .500 record of 10-10 and is tied for fourth place in the NEC with a 5-4 mark against conference opponents. The Hawks pride themselves on defensive play and currently sit in fourth place in the conference allowing only 58.7 points per game. Monmouth also focuses on keeping the turnovers to a minimum and forcing plenty on the defensive end. MU sits in second place in the conference with a +2.05 turnover margin. Leading the way offensively for the Hawks is freshman standout Alysha Womack. The Pennsylvania native is currently leading her team in scoring and in 13th place in the NEC averaging 12.7 ppg. Womack is the only Monmouth player averaging double figures. The 5-foot-7 guard is also tied for second on the team in rebounds per game with 3.4 and second on the team in assists with 47. Her 47 assists are good enough for 15th in the NEC. Her classmate Abby Martin is currently ranked 10th in the conference in rebounds per game, averaging 6.9 per contest.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
With her 33 and 34 point performances against Monmouth and Quinnipiac, respectively, Kelsey O'Keefe has the two highest single-game point totals in the Northeast Conference this season. She is currently ranked eighth in the NEC, averaging 14.7 ppg.

The Bulldogs are shooting well from long-range this season and are currently in fourth place in the NEC in 3-point shooting percentage, averaging 33.2 percent from beyond the arc. Bryant is fourth in 3-point shots made with 114 on the season and sixth in the conference in assists, averaging 12.85 per game. Coming into Saturday's contest, sophomore Lekia Cowen is ranked third in the NEC, shooting 43.3 percent from long range. Senior captain Kristin Mraz is ranked seventh in the NEC with her 72 assists while O'Keefe is ranked third in free throw shooting percentage, averaging 84.6 percent from the line.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Bryant Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents in 14 games so far this season, including seven of the eight victories. Bryant is currently ranked second in the NEC in rebounding, averaging 40.9 per game. The Bulldogs are fourth in the NEC in rebounding margin, averaging 3.6 boards better than their opponents. In the NEC, Kelsey O'Keefe and Siamone Bennett are ranked 18th and 19th in rebounds per game, respectively. Both players are averaging 6.2 boards per game. Bennett is also second in the conference in offensive rebounds, pulling down and average of 3.45 offensive rebounds per game while O'Keefe sits in fifth place in defensive boards, pulling down 5.24 a night. Bennett also remains in first place in the conference with 29 blocked shots.

BRYANT TO ANNOUNCE ALL-DECADE TEAM
The past decade of Bryant University women's basketball saw many memorable individual and team highlights. During the intermission of today's game with Monmouth University, head coach Mary Burke will unveil and introduce the 11-member All-Decade Team, many of whom will be present for the halftime ceremony.

Over the past decade, the Bulldogs averaged 16 wins per season and qualified for seven postseason tournaments, including three NCAA tournament appearances. Seven players have reached the 1,000-point plateau since the 1999-2000 season and many are expected to be named to the All-Decade Team on the Jan. 30.

The Bulldogs opened the decade with an 11-win season, earning a spot in the Northeast-10 Conference tournament. The team also entered the final year of the decade with an 11-win season, the program's first competing at the Division I level.

UP NEXT
Bryant will play its final contest of a three game homestand on Thursday, Feb. 4 when the Bulldogs host NEC foe Central Connecticut. It will be the first matchup of the season between the two programs and the third overall. Bryant leads the series 2-0 over the Blue Devils.