Bulldogs continue road trip, take on Saint Francis U Monday evening

LORETTO, Pa. – The Bryant University women's basketball team continues its Pennsylvania swing as the Bulldogs head to Loretto for a matchup with the Saint Francis University Red Flash. The game is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. and will be played at SFU's DeGol Arena.

THE PARTICULARS

Opponent: Saint Francis University
Game Time: Monday, Jan. 29 – 6 p.m.
Watch Live: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Saint Francis U
Tickets: Purchase
Game Notes: Bryant | Saint Francis U

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH
SFU comes into Monday's matchup with a 12-8 overall record with a 7-1 mark in NEC play. The Red Flash are currently ranked second in the league, while Bryant is third.

Jess Kovatch, a pre-season All-NEC selection, is the Red Flash's leader in scoring. She currently averages 23.6 points per game. Ace Harrison is the team's leading rebounder and third-leading scorer, posting averages of 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

SFU is coached by Joe Haigh, who is in his sixth season at the helm of the program. He led the team to the WBI last year, winning a game vs. Campbell.

SERIES HISTORY vs. SAINT FRANCIS U
Bryant owns an 8-7 record over SFU. The teams split both decisions last season, the most recent an 85-70 Bryant victory in the Chace Athletic Center.

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 (9.2 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.

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 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.2 steals, and 3.0 assists 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 6.1 rebounds for the Bulldogs in her first collegiate season. In NEC play, Scanlan has been dominant, averaging 12.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals 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. Against 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.