Bulldogs, Friars open first-ever Ocean State Tip-off Tournament, Saturday at 1 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University Women's Basketball team will open against Providence in the first-ever Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament this weekend at 1 p.m. at the Pizzitola Sports Center on Brown's campus.

GAME NOTES

THE SERIES
This contest will mark the fourth meeting between the Bulldogs and Friars, as the Black and Gold will look to even the tally.

SCOUTING THE FRIARS
After winning only five games total last season, the Friars are off to a hot start under first-year head coach Jim Crowley, beginning this year 6-0. Crowley joined Friar Nation after a 20-year stint at St. Bonaventure, including 16 years at the helm. The three-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year has led his Friars past the likes of Colgate, Hartford and Miami (OH). In their closest game of the season, the Friars took down Colgate, 92-85, in double overtime in Providence.

The Friars are led offensively by Sarah Beal, Jovana Nogic and Maddie Jolin, all of which average double-digit points on the season. Beal leads the unit with 15.2 points per game, shooting a team-high 54.8 percent from the floor, while also topping the charts in total assists (23). Nogic averages 14.8 points per game, shooting 46.8 percent from the floor, a team-high 51.2 percent from behind the arc and 100 percent from the line. Jolin rounds out the top offensive performers, averaging 14.0 points per game off 50 percent shooting, 46.9 percent from three and 75 percent from the charity stripe.

OCEAN STATE TIP-OFF 
The first-ever tournament will be hosted at Brown University, comprising of all Division I women's basketball programs in the 401, including URI, PC, Brown and Bryant. The tournament is set every year for the first weekend in December with the host school rotating annually. Bryant is planned to host the event in the Chace in 2019. The first round matchups will also rotate each year, as Bryant has drawn PC on Saturday. The winner of the 1 p.m. game will face off against the winner of the 3 p.m. game between URI and Brown on Sunday at 3 p.m. with the third-place contest tipping on Sunday at 1 p.m.

KEYS TO THE GAME
The Bulldogs will have to look to get out and run on the Friars. Transition baskets will help give the Bulldogs momentum and allow them to get the Friars' back on their heels. Another key for Bryant includes playing smart defense. PC plays a unique style of offense with five on the outside, who can all shoot and drive, so it will be key for the Bulldogs to know the personnel to help take away some of the Friars' strengths. An important win for the Bulldogs will be on the glass and it will be vital for Bryant to value the basketball and limit their turnovers to a very skilled Providence team.

GIVEAWAYS
The Bulldogs average 20.2 turnovers a game, giving up a season-high 24 against Holy Cross and New Hampshire. The Crusaders stole the ball on 17 occasions, leaving only seven Bryant giveaways, while the Bulldogs had 15 unforced errors at UNH. The Black and Gold have coughed up the ball 20+ times on three occasions, including most recently 21 turnovers at Rutgers. This season, the Bulldogs have given up 82 points off turnovers, allowing a season-high 21 at Rutgers. The Black and Gold tally 64 points off opponents' giveaways, totaling a season-high 24 against Vermont.

FEWER THAN 50
The Bulldogs only mustered up 42 points against Rutgers, marking the first time they scored under 50 points since their 38-point performance at Maine on Dec. 12, 2015. On the other hand, Bryant held the Scarlet Knights to only 50 points on the game. The last time both teams score 50 or fewer points was Bryant's 44-40 win over Maine on Dec. 10, 2012.

CHARITY STRIPE
Last year, the Bulldogs shot 71.1 percent from the line, finishing with a season-low 50.0 percent from the line at Mount St. Mary's on Jan. 11. Although, averaging 71.1 percent through the first six games this season, the Bulldogs shot a season-low 45.5 percent at Rutgers. Bryant totals two games under 55 percent, after averaging 83.8 percent through the first two games.

AUTOMATIC
Freshman Sydney Holloway is one Bulldog that is automatic from the line, averaging 93.8 percent, off 15-of-16, placing her first in the NEC and 24th in the country.

L IS FOR LEARNING
The Bulldogs now face a two-game losing streak after falling to New Hampshire and Rutgers on the road. In a humbling experience, the Bulldogs gave up a 36-minute lead against the Wildcats, resulting in a 62-60 defeat. The Black and Gold led by as much as 10 points in the start of the fourth quarter after hitting back-to-back threes, but the Wildcats continued to battle, knocking down big-time shots in the final period, before beating the Bulldogs on defense and at the line. Most recently, Bryant fell by eight, 50-42, to the Scarlet Knights, after suffering two quarters in which the Bulldogs scored single-digits.

UPS & DOWNS
At Rutgers, in the first quarter alone, the Bulldogs shot 16.7 percent (2-12) from the field, scoring just six points to the Scarlet Knights' 11. The Black and Gold bounced back to go 7-for-15 (46.7%) in the second quarter, giving them a 23-22 edge at halftime. The hot shooting was short lived as Bryant connected on only one field goal in the third period, totaling a season-low four points, while the Scarlet Knights shot 50 percent from the floor (7-14) in the third, giving the hosts a commanding 37-27 lead after 30 minutes. The Bulldogs ultimately outscored the Scarlet Knights, 15-13, in the fourth quarter, but the deficit proved to be too much, as Rutgers defeated Bryant, 50-42, in its first win of the season.

BAILEY FROM DOWNTOWN
Junior Ivory Bailey had been warming up from downtown through the first three games, before catching fire in game four of the season at New Hampshire, in which the guard knocked down a career-high six threes. In the contest, Bailey drained six of the team's nine from downtown, as she finished 6-for-11 (54.5%) from behind the arc, as the team connected on a season-best 9-of-20 (45.0%). Bailey's six threes marks the first time a Bryant player has hit six since Katie Whittington made the same amount at Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 4, 2013. The guard drained another four at Rutgers, as she averages 2.75 per game, finishing 39.5 percent from deep.

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Of the 21 periods the Bulldogs have played this season, including the overtime against Holy Cross, they have outscored their opponents on 11 occasions. In their largest quarter differential, Bryant outscored the Crusaders, 21-11, in the opening period on the contest. The Bulldogs scored a season-low four points in the third quarter at Rutgers, going just 1-for-13 from the floor. In their winning periods, the Bulldogs average 3.86 more points. In their losing periods, the Black and Gold average a deficit of 6.75 points. Through the first five games of the season, Bryant has tied their opponents in two quarters, one occurring in the first period and the other in the last.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Bulldogs have yet to win a game by more than six points this season, averaging a +0.2 scoring differential. Bryant went to overtime against Holy Cross, ultimately winning by two. In the following game, Bryant defeated Brown by three in the final minute of the game. At New Hampshire, the Bulldogs gave up a 36-minute lead in the final minute and a half and in result, the Black and Gold lost by two, 62-60. After trailing by as much 12 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs pulled within two of the Scarlet Knights, but weren't able to overcome the deficit and a last-second three helped Rutgers to a 50-42 win.

REBOUNDING MARGIN
The Bulldogs average 12.4 more rebounds than their opposition through the first five games. The team's average places them first in the NEC and 18th nationally. In their best performance, Bryant out-rebounded Brown by 23, marking their highest rebounding differential since the 2014 season. In their closest margin, Bryant grabbed four more rebounds than New Hampshire, 38-34.

LEADING AT HALF
After leading at halftime in all five contests this season, the Bulldogs have pulled out wins on three occasions. Bryant's losses at New Hampshire and Rutgers were the only instance in which the Bulldogs did not win after winning at intermission. Last year, Bryant went 17-6 when leading its opponent at the break.

NON-LEAGUE
Against non-league competitors in Division I play, the Bulldogs sit at 48-63, 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 3-1 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 Providence: "They play a unique style. Their coach has done a great job implementing his style with five players out on the perimeter. They shoot the ball extremely well and have the ability to get into the paint."

"We are going to need to really lock in on defense and understand their players' strengths and weaknesses, who are shooters, who are drivers. It's also going to be important for us to do what we are capable of doing, which is getting out and running and using our athleticism, speed and strength in the post."

"I think this tournament is great for RI basketball. This is a great feature for the women's teams and it also allows the players to get excited about more than just a regular one-game scenario. The tournament is a stage that allows Bryant to continue to gain respect at the Division I level."

In regards to Rutgers: "It was a great opportunity for our program to get on a national stage and play a team with the caliber of Rutgers. They are very well-coach, athletic, and all the situations like these prepare us for the experience we will need in January and February."