Posted: Feb 20, 2010

BULLDOGS TRAVEL TO MOUNT ST. MARY’S FOR 3PM MATCHUP SATURDAY

February 20, 2010

BULLDOGS TRAVEL TO MOUNT ST. MARY'S FOR 3PM MATCHUP SATURDAY

SMITHFIELD, RI - The Bulldogs, in their second season at the Division I level, enter today's contest in sole possession of fifth place in the Northeast Conference with a 12-4 overall mark and a 9-6 league record. However, due to DI transitional rules, Bryant is ineligible for postseason play until the 2012-13 season. The Bulldogs will face Mount St. Mary's University this afternoon at 3 p.m. The Mount is currently 9-16 overall and 5-10 in conference play. They are tied for ninth place in the NEC and still battling for a spot in the conference tournament. The Mount leads the series 1-0 over the Black and Gold as they defeated the Bulldogs, 71-68, last season at the Knott Arena.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
The Mount has struggled to score this season as they average only 54.8 points per game, the second lowest in the Northeast Conference. The Mountaineers shoot 31.7 percent from 3-point range but only 36.3 percent from the field overall. However, the Mount's defense has been consistent all season long. They give up an average of just 57.2 points per game and allow their opponents to shoot an average of only 36.5 percent from the field. Both of those are also second best in the NEC. The team is led by Mary Dunn who averages 11.2 ppg, ranking her 15th in the league. Dunn is the only Mount player that averages in double figures. Dunn has started every game this season and also leads her squad in rebounding, averaging 6.8 per game. That number ranks her 10th in the conference. The Mountaineers are 4-5 at home this season.

THE SERIES
Bryant fell to the Mountaineers, 71-68, in the teams' only previous meeting, coming on March 2, 2009 at the Knott Arena. In that game Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) poured in 15 points on 6-7 shooting. Bennett added eight rebounds in the Bryant loss. Seniors' Jaime Campbell (Springfield, Mass.) and Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.) contributed 14 points each. O'Keefe went 6-9 from the floor while Campbell was 5-9. The Bulldogs shot 51.9 percent as they fell 71-69 to the Mountaineers.

UP NEXT
Bryant will hit the road for its final road game of the 2009-10 season when it travels to Brooklyn, New York to complete the home and home series against the St. Francis (N.Y.) Terriers. The Bulldogs defeated the Terriers, 55-41, in its first conference matchup of the season. The game will be in the Pop PE Center and is scheduled for a 5 p.m. tip-off.