Bulldogs host Pioneers in big NEC matchup Saturday

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FULL GAME NOTES

ON TAP AT THE CHACE ATHLETIC CENTER
The Bryant University women's basketball team will look to remain atop the Northeast Conference standings when they welcome Sacred Heart to Smithfield on Saturday (1 p.m.) for the first leg of Bryant hoops doubleheader.

THE SERIES
Dating back to its first season as a Division I program, Bryant has struggled against Sacred Heart, dropping the first 10 matchups in the all-time series. However, the Bulldogs sought out their revenge last February in Smithfield with a 70-66 victory over the Pioneers behind a combined 31 points, 23 rebound effort from Jenniqua Bailey and Breanna Rucker.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart enters Saturday's contest with an 8-8 overall record sitting in sixth place in the Northeast Conference standings with a 3-3 mark against league opponents. After starting the year 4-1, the Pioneers dropped four of their last five non-conference games and have split all their games since the start of NEC play. After a shootout victory at Saint Francis on Jan. 17, SHU dropped a tough decision at Robert Morris despite 23 and 12 from NEC Player of the Week Hannah Kimmel.

Kimmel, who leads her team in points, rebounds and steals, ranks fifth in the conference in scoring 16.8 ppg, fourth in rebounding (8.6 rpg) and fourth in steals (2.06 spg). Despite missing the first part of the season, perennial All-NEC member Gabriell Washington ranks second on the team with 13 ppg, while sophomore Adaysha Williams rounds out the double digit scorers with 11.8 ppg to go along with 3.3 apg. Senior point guard Katie Shepard leads Sacred Heart with nearly five helpers per contest.

As a team, the Pioneers have one of the highest powered offenses in the NEC, ranking second to only Bryant in points per game (70.6) and scoring margin (+2.8). They do however boast the highest field goal percentage among league opponents at .428 percent and they dish out the most assists per game, averaging 14 dimes per contest.

RECORD-SETTING NIGHT
Bryant was impressive across the board in its 84-48 victory over Wagner on Monday night, posting season-highs in margin over victory (36), assists (21), rebounds (61), 3-point field goals made (11), 3-point FG percentage (.688), and points allowed (48). The Bulldogs have now won six of their last seven and currently sit in first place in the NEC standings.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
A trio of Bulldogs notched double doubles in Monday's victory over Wagner for the first time in Division I program history. Junior Breanna Rucker led the way with a 27/15 performance for her league-leading 13th double dip of the season, while sophomore Morgan Olander posted a career-high 17 points to go along with 11 boards for her third double double of the season. Freshman Ivory Bailey rounded out the group with 16 points and a career-best 13 rebounds for her first-career double double en route to earning her fifth NEC Rookie of the Week honor on Tuesday.

RUCKIN' N ROLLIN'
Junior forward Breanna Rucker has been an absolute beast for the Black and Gold this season, following up her second Player of the Week nod with a 27 point, 15 board performance in a huge win over Wagner on Monday. Rucker currently ranks first in the NEC and sxith in the country in rebounding (11.7 rpg), seventh in scoring (16.2 ppg) and third in FG percentage (.467). Rucker's 14 games of 10+ boards also is tops among league opponents.

OH THE IVORY
Behind a 15.5 ppg and 10.5 rpg weekend, freshman guard Ivory Bailey earned her fifth overall and third consecutive NEC Rookie of the Week honor on Tuesday. In Bryant's first NEC loss of the season on Jan. 17, Bailey put up a team-high 15 points and eight boards in a tough decision at CCSU before coming back with 16 points and a career-high 13 boards for her first-career double double in a blowout victory over Wagner on Monday.The freshman has now logged double digits in the scoring column in five-straight games and ranks in the top 20 in the league in scoring, rebounding, free throw percentage, 3-point FG percentage, and minutes played.

WINDEX
Always among the top rebounding teams in the Northeast Conference, Bryant once against sits at the top in almost every rebounding category in the league rankings. Outrebounding opponents by an average margin of 8.9 rpg (first in NEC), the Bulldogs have outrebounded the opposition in 14 of 16 contests this season.

In Monday's win over Wagner, the Bulldogs grabbed a season-high 61 rebounds, outboarding the Seahawks by a margin of 27, marking the second game in which Bryant has outrebounded an opponent by 25 or more. Led by Breanna Rucker's 15 boards, three Bulldogs grabbed at least 11 caroms, including a career-best 13 from freshman Ivory Bailey.

AND THE AWARD GOES TO…
The Bryant women's basketball program has been well represented on the Northeast Conference weekly awards this season with a Bulldog earning either Player of the Week or Rookie of the Week honors in seven of the first nine weeks. Most recently freshman Ivory Bailey grabbed her third consecutive and fifth overall NEC Rookie of the Week honor. Last season, Bryant did not receive a single NEC weekly honor.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Bulldogs enter the second game of a three-game homestand on Saturday before heading out for five of the next six on the road. Enter Saturday's game, Bryant is 7-1 overall (3-0 in NEC) within the friendly confines of the Chace Athletic Center.

TICKET TO THE RIDE
Single-game and season ticket packages are still available for the 2014-15 men's and women's basketball seasons. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.bryantbulldogs.com/tickets or by calling the Bryant Athletics Ticket Office at 401-519-TIXX.

CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME?
Bryant University Athletics and the Northeast Conference have partnered with Pack Network to create NEC Front Row, the home for all NEC men's and women's basketball broadcasts in 2014-15. Visit www.NECFrontRow.com for more information and a schedule of events.