Bulldogs face Blue Devils in New Britain, Saturday at 1 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team travels to New Britain to take on Central Connecticut on Saturday at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES

THE SERIES
This contest marks the 17th meeting between the Bulldogs and Blue Devils with the series in Bryant's favor, 9-7.

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS
After starting league play 6-0, the Blue Devils have lost their last two games and given up the top spot to Sacred Heart and Saint Francis U. CCSU's two conference losses came at Saint Francis U., 87-81, and Robert Morris, 55-46. Prior to the NEC season, the Blue Devils had only defeated Vermont, 78-76, in overtime.

Central tops the league in rebounding offense, grabbing 41.2 per game, while Bryant sits second at 40.3 per contest. Bryant and CCSU are the only two teams in the conference to average a positive rebounding margin with the Blue Devils in second at 1.8. CCSU also holds the top spot over Bryant in defensive rebounds at 27.58 per game.

The Blue Devils are led offensively by senior Aleah Epps and sophomore Kiana Patterson, who both average double figures through the first 19 games. Epps averages 12.5 points, shooting 37.6 percent from the floor, 25.0 percent from three and 82.0 percent from the line. Patterson averages 10.4 points, connecting on 38.8 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from behind the arc and 68.4 percent from the charity stripe.

COLD FROM THREE
The Bulldogs have shot under 30 percent from three in 12-of-19 games this season, hitting less than five from deep in all 12 games. In Bryant's worst performance from deep, the team went 1-for-16 from behind the arc in the season opener at Vermont. The Bulldogs are most recently coming off back-to-back 16.7 percent shooting marks from three.

O'CANADA
Senior Alex Klein recorded her fourth double-double of the season at Saint Francis U. off a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds. The performance marks the Ontario native's sixth 20+ point game, as well as 12th time leading Bryant in scoring and 10th time leading the team in rebounds. The remaining 20+ point games include Vermont, Holy Cross, Pitt, UMass Lowell and Wagner. Klein averages a team-high 16.9 points per game.

DOING THE DISHES
Sophomore Kierra Palmer averages 4.70 helpers per game, placing her first in the conference. She has recorded four 7+ assist games, most recently dishing out eight at Saint Francis U.

REBOUNDING MARGIN
The Bulldogs average the NEC's highest rebounding margin at +6.2 per game, placing them 44th nationally. In their best performance, Bryant out-rebounded Brown by 23, marking their highest rebounding differential since the 2014 season. The Bulldogs have lost four battles on the boards to Maine, Sacred Heart, Wagner and Robert Morris by single digits.

GIVEAWAYS
The Bulldogs average 20.8 turnovers a game, giving up a season-high 29 at Robert Morris. The Black and Gold have coughed up the ball 20+ times on 13 occasions. This season, the Bulldogs have given up 26.7 points per game off turnovers, allowing a season-high 31 against Maine and at Saint Francis U. The Black and Gold average 13.3 points per game off opponents' giveaways, including a season-high 24 against Vermont.