Photo by: DSPics.com
Photo by: DSPics.com

Bryant hosts New Hampshire in home opener Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After an exciting one-point season-opening victory, the Bryant University women's basketball team looks to extend to 2-0 as they host New Hampshire for the first home game of the season. The Bulldogs take on the Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m.

The first 200 students to arrive at the game will receive a free Chick-fil-a sandwich.

THE PARTICULARS
Opponent:
New Hampshire
Location:
Chace Athletic Center
Game Time:
1 p.m.
Watch Live:
NEC Front Row
Live Stats:
Sidearm Stats
Game Notes:
New Hampshire
Social Media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #AllHeart #AllHustle | #NECWBB

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
New Hampshire kicked off its 2019-20 slate with #2 Baylor in Waco, Texas. The top-ranked team defeated New Hampshire, 97-29, as the Wildcats were unable to score a single point in the first quarter of play. Junior Amanda Torres led the Wildcats with 12 points.

Along with Torres, the Wildcats return all of their primary scorers from 2018-19 as they graduated just one from last season. New Hampshire added five rookies to the mix with one appearing in the starting lineup at Baylor as the other four came off the bench to give quality minutes.

BULLDOGS NEWS AND NOTABLES
Bryant squeaked out a one-point win in its season opener over in-state rival Brown, 45-44. The victory was the second consecutive one-point season-opening win as the Bulldogs topped UMass Lowell one year ago, 58-57. Tuesday also marked the lowest-scoring game between both teams since 2012 when Bryant edged out Maine, 44-40.

Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W. Va.) led the Bulldogs at Brown with her first double-double of the season scoring 13 points and pulling down 13 off the glass. Trinity Bravo (Bridgeport, Conn.) notched her first career double-double contributing 11 points, 12 rebounds.

SEEING DOUBLE
Holloway kicked off the 2019-20 season the same way she ended 2018-19, with a double-double. Holloway earned her 37th career double-double in Bryant's season opener at Brown with 13 points, 13 rebounds. Last season, Holloway ranked seventh in the country for her double-double performances.

ROOKIE SZN
Freshman Nicole Gallagher (Foxboro, Mass.) wasted no time getting accustomed to the collegiate level as she dropped 11 points and grabbed five rebounds to kick off her rookie debut. Gallagher was the second-leading scorer for the Bulldogs in the season opener.

ON THE RISE
Holloway continued to climb the Division I scoring ranks at Bryant jumping seven spots last season. Holloway is just 53 points away from tying the Division I scoring record at Bryant as she reached the 1,000 point milestone on Dec. 30, 2019, against Holy Cross, becoming the fastest player in Bryant women's basketball Division I history to do so.

BEGINNERS LUCK
Gallagher posted one of the best rookie debuts in Bryant's history since Ivory Bailey in 2014. Bailey dropped  24 points to kick off her career at home against Maine compared to Gallagher's 11 points. Gallagher is also the first rookie to start in Bryant's season opener since Mary Besselink in 2017. Freshman Shannon O'Connor (Wrentham, Mass.) accompanied Gallagher in the starting five as well.

BRAVO!
Bravo opened her sophomore season with a career game at Brown. Bravo recorded her first-ever double-double with 11 points, 12 rebounds.

BOARDING SCHOOL
After ranking first last season in the NEC for most rebounds per game, the Bulldogs continued to dominate the glass in their season opener at Brown. The Bulldogs outrebounded the Bears, 46-41.

NUMBER CHANGES
Both Meagan Bianchi (Brooklyn, Conn.) and Bravo changed numbers after their first seasons with the Black and Gold. Bravo wore #15 last year and will wear #23 in the 2019-20 season. Bianchi wore #10 in 2018-19 and is now #5 this season.

WELCOME TO OUR HOUSE
The Bulldogs posted a 7-5 record when playing in Smithfield in 2018-19. Bryant topped Brown, LIU, Saint Francis U, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, Mount St. Mary's, and Wagner at the Chace Athletic Center. The Black and Gold return home on Saturday, Nov. 9 against New Hampshire at 1 p.m.

TICKET TO RIDE
Season ticket packages are available for the 2019-20 Bryant University men's and women's basketball seasons. Fans can purchase tickets online at bryantbulldogs.com/tickets or by calling the Bryant Athletics Ticket Office at 401-319-TIXX.

UP NEXT: VERMONT
Bryant hits the road for its first of four November road games with Vermont on Sunday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m.