Bulldogs head to Robert Morris in 2017 NEC title game rematch

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Bryant University women's basketball team travels to Moon Township to begin a two-game road weekend beginning with Robert Morris on Saturday. The game will be played at RMU's North Athletic Complex with a tip-off scheduled for 1 p.m.

THE PARTICULARS

Opponent: Robert Morris
Game Time: Saturday, Jan. 27 – 1 p.m.
Watch Live: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Robert Morris
Game Notes: Bryant | Robert Morris

SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
Nneka Ezeigbo is RMU's leader in both scoring and rebounding. The sophomore has posted averages of 10.7 points and 7.4 rebounds in just 19.1 minutes per game, acting as the Colonials first option off the bench.

Megan Smith, a 2016-17 NEC All-Third team selection, has been solid for the Colonials. The senior averages 9.9 points for RMU and is shooting 34 percent from behind the 3-point line this season. She has also averaged 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this season.

The Colonials are coached by Charlie Buscaglia, who is in his second season as RMU's head coach. Last season, Buscaglia led the Colonials to the NEC title and a berth into the NCAA Tournament.

SERIES HISTORY vs. ROBERT MORRIS
All-time, the Colonials lead the series with the Bulldogs, 14-5. The two met in last year's NEC Championship game, a game in which RMU came away victorious in a 65-52 final.

NOTHING CAN STOP ME, I'M HOLLOWAY UP
In just her sophomore season, sophomore Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W. Va.) has been one of the premier players in the conference. The West Virginia, native is currently fourth in the conference in scoring (16.7 ppg), third in rebounding (9.4 rpg) and 10th in blocks (0.8 bpg). She set a career-high in scoring with 28 points versus Central Connecticut on Jan. 6 and has posted eight double-doubles this season, which ranks 41st nationally.

AY NAY NAY
After a breakout season in 2016-17, redshirt junior Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ontario) has been a force for the Bryant Bulldogs this season. The highlight of Ashley's season came at Holy Cross when the red-shirt junior had 9 points, 12 rebounds and 9 steals against the Crusaders. Ashley has posted averages of 10.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.1 steals as a redshirt junior, all career bests.

SCANNING THE RECORD BOOK
Freshman Hannah Scanlan (Rumson, N.J.) scored 27 points in the Northeast Conference opener vs. Wagner. The 27 points were the most-ever by a freshman in the program's Division I era.

WOMAN OF STEAL
In a two-point overtime defeat at Holy Cross, Naomi Ashley set a Bryant Division I program record for steals in a game with nine. She bested the previous best of eight set by Danielle Douglas in the 2010-2011 season. The program record belongs to Beth Connealy (now Wandyes), who had 10 in a game versus Springfield in 1995. Ashley had another big theft game vs. Rhode Island, coming away with six steals vs. the Rams in the first round of the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament. She collected her 100th career steal in the NEC opener vs. Wagner on Dec. 29.

BJELKO BUSTS OUT
Freshman Brooke Bjelko (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) played 29 minutes versus Mount St. Mary's and set career highs in points (12), rebounds (14), assists (2), field goals (3) and made free throws (6). Against the Mountaineers, Bjelko secured her first career double-double. In her next conference game, Bjelko scored 8 points and grabbed 7 rebounds versus Central Connecticut.

SCANLAN DOWN LOW
Freshman Hannah Scanlan has posted averages of 8.5 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Bulldogs in her first collegiate season. In NEC play, Scanlan has been dominant, averaging 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. For her play, she has been named the NEC Rookie of the Week in each of the past two weeks.

EVERSON NAMED CAPTAIN
Bryant senior Kathleen Everson (Farmingville, N.Y.) was named a captain ahead of the 2017-18 season by head coach Mary Burke. Everson has set new career highs in points on three occasions. In her last game versus St. Francis Brooklyn, Everson scored a career-best 14 points.

BRYANT ADDS TWO
Bryant University women's basketball added two future Bulldogs during the early signing period, receiving National Letters of Intent from Trinity Bravo (Bridgeport, Conn.) and Alexandra Hart (Saco, Maine).

FRONT ROW SEAT
Bryant University Athletics and the Northeast Conference are once again affiliated with the Pack Network and NEC Front Row, the home for all NEC men's and women's basketball broadcasts. NEC Front Row brings viewers an industry-leading video streaming solution for more than 100 Bryant University home contests during the 2017-18 athletic seasons, including live, free-of-charge, high-definition broadcasts of all Bulldog home women's basketball games. Live event productions include multiple camera angles, an on-screen scoreboard, state-of-the-art graphics and DVR functionality. Visit NECFrontRow.com for more information and a complete schedule of events.