Bears take short trip to Smithfield to face Bulldogs in RI showdown Thursday at 7 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team will host Brown on Thursday at 7 p.m., as both teams aim to stay perfect to start the season.

THE SERIES
This contest will mark the ninth meeting between the Bulldogs and Bears with the series mark in Brown's favor, 5-3. Last year, the Bears defeated the Bulldogs by their largest margin, 84-67, to take a 3-2 series lead in Smithfield. This matchup may mark the first meeting of the season between the Bears and Bulldogs, as there is a potential to meet again in two weeks in the RI Rumble hosted by Brown. 

SCOUTING THE BEARS
The Bears (2-0) are off to an explosive start, scoring 80+ points in each of their first two games. To start the season, Brown has defeated both Howard and most recently fellow NEC member Sacred Heart. Four of the Bears' five starters average double-digit points, led by freshman Justine Gaziano, who averages 19.5 points through the first two games. Sophomores Shayna Mehta, Taylor Will and Erika Steeves make up the other three. Gaziano, the six-foot guard/forward is averaging 63.6% from the floor, 66.7% from three and 100% from the line. Last season against the Bulldogs, Mehta proved to be effective for the Bears offensively, hitting 7-of-7 from downtown and totaling 30 points at the Chace. To start this season, the 5-7 guard has gone 4-for-8 from three. As a team, Brown shoots 40.5% from the arc, 47.1% from the field and 70.6% from the charity stripe. Against Sacred Heart alone, the Bears went 29-for-30 (48.3%) from the floor and 9-for-20 (45%) from three. Brown was able to dominate the Pioneers, 25-6, in the first quarter and despite losing every quarter after, they were able to win the game, 80-66. 

KEYS TO THE GAME
With no seniors on the roster, Brown is a young team that starts four sophomores and a freshman, all looking to push the ball up in transition. The Bears have a lot of size at the guard position, starting a 5-11 guard and 6-0 swing player to compliment a 5-7 point guard, 6-0 forward and 6-2 forward. The Bulldogs will have to crash the boards offensively to increase their number of offensive possessions, as well as being prepared to get back into transition defense. The Bears have a number of effective scorers, all of which can penetrate, so tough man-to-man and   help defense will be a key for the Bulldogs. 

SENIOR CAPTAIN
Alex Klein, an important member of the team, is not only one-of-three captains this season, but is also the leading scorer to start the season. Klein currently averages a double-double off 25.5 points and 12.0 rebounds through the first two games. The forward has helped Bryant to a 2-0 start for the first time since the 2014-15 season. After scoring 25 points in the season-opener at Vermont, the Canadian native put up a new season-high 26 points against Holy Cross, just one point shy of her career-best 27 points that she scored in last year's semifinal loss to Robert Morris. Klein currently holds the top rank in five conference categories, while posting six top-25 national rankings. 

TWIN TOWERS
Bryant's inside game between 6-1 Klein and 6-2 Morgan Olander has been the driving force for the Bulldogs offensively. Together, the posts put up 46 of the team's 76 points in their overtime win over Holy Cross on Monday. Olander shot a career-best 9-for-13 from the field and 2-for-4 from the charity stripe, putting up a career-high 20 points, while Klein scored 26 points off a career-best 10-for-19 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the line. Klein also recorded her second-career double-double, grabbing a career-high 18 boards, including 12 on the defensive glass and 6 on the offensive, helping average a double-double on the season. 

WARMING UP
Junior Ivory Bailey, a NEC Preseason Selection, is just warming up in nonleague play. After a seven-point, three-rebound performance, the guard came out against Holy Cross ready to make a statement, scoring 19 points off 6-of-15 from the floor, while grabbing 12 rebounds for her sixth-career double-double. Bailey not only hit a three to put Bryant up five in overtime against Holy Cross, but also hit a mid-range pull up with 11 seconds left that proved to be the game-winning basket, as the Bulldogs defeated the Crusaders, 76-74. 

HAUL AWAY
Freshman Sydney Holloway displayed her athleticism in the season opener at Vermont, grabbing eight boards, including five on the offensive glass. The forward also put up eight points in her collegiate debut, showing that she could be the player to fill Breanna Rucker's very big shoes. In complement to her rebounding, Holloway went 5-for-5 from the line against Holy Cross, ranking her currently first in the NEC and in the country in free throw percentage on the season (1.000).

RI BREAKDOWN
Through the past five seasons, the Bulldogs have maintained a healthy lead over RI's fellow Division I programs, totaling 71 wins since the 2012-13 season. Brown sits second behind Bryant with 46 total wins, while Rhode Island has recorded 43 and Providence 26. 

ICE COLD FROM DEEP
The Bulldogs went 0-for-10 in the first half and 1-for-16 from three in their season opener at Vermont, while shooting 2-for-15 against Holy Cross. Bailey hit both threes for the Bulldogs against the Crusaders, including one from downtown to give Bryant a five-point lead in overtime. Seven Bulldogs attempted shots from behind the arc, but freshman Stephanie Lesko was the only to connect against the Catamounts, as she went 1-for-1 in the contest. 

"We struggled from outside but our staples were our defense, rebounding and tenacity," said head coach Mary Burke. "Our shooting is going to come around. It is especially hard to come out hot on the road and with young kids trying to shake off the nerves. What proved to be the most crucial was our ability to withstand their runs and that along with our staples will benefit us moving forward." 

NON-LEAGUE
Against non-league competitors in Division I play, the Bulldogs sit at 47-62, including just two winning seasons against non-conference opponents. The 2014-15 season was the last time the Bulldogs entered NEC play with a winning record, sitting at 8-5, while last year, Bryant went 4-9 to start the season. This season the Bulldogs are 2-0 to start, marking the last time since 2014-15. Bryant's strength of schedule has played a large role in its non-league struggles, including when Bryant played Big East member Seton Hall, America East competitor Maine and ACC opponent Boston College. The more challenging non-conference schedule continues this season with games at the Big Ten's Rutgers and the ACC's Pitt, along with similar nonleague opponents that Bryant faced last season. 

BURKE'S BLURB
In regards to the game against Brown: "They are very active and score well in transition. Our transition defense is going to be a major key for us, as well as defending the drive and being ready to close out on the perimeter. We need to be ready to defend one through five."