BULLDOGS LOOK TO UPSET SACRED HEART ON THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE CHACE CENTER, TIP-OFF 5 PM

January 13, 2010

Game Notes / NEC Release / Live Stats / Video 

BULLDOGS LOOK TO UPSET SACRED HEART ON THURSDAY NIGHT IN THE CHACE CENTER, TIP-OFF 5 PM

 GAME TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON BRYANTBULLDOGS.TV

SMITFIELD, R.I. - After playing its last four games on the road, the Bryant University women's basketball team begins a two-game home-stretch against Northeast Conference opponents. The action will tip-off Thursday night at 5 p.m. when the Bulldogs host Sacred Heart. Bryant enters the matchup with a 4-10 overall record and a 2-2 mark in the NEC. The Bulldogs are coming off their second win in conference play with a victory at Monmouth on Saturday, Jan. 9. The win, led by senior captain Kelsey O'Keefe, who tied her career-high with 33 points, snapped a six-game losing streak for the team. Prior to Saturday's matchup with the Hawks, Bryant faced Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday evening. The Knights opened the game on a 21-4 run and never looked back as they defeated the Bulldogs, 76-56.

Sacred Heart is currently tied for first place in the conference with a perfect 4-0 mark against NEC opponents. The Pioneers are 11-4 overall and have four players averaging 10 points per game or higher. The squad is currently on a three-game winning streak, earning all three victories at home and by an average of 13.6 ppg. Junior Alisa Apo currently averages 16.1 ppg, while sophomore Callan Taylor is averaging 15.9 ppg. In scoring, Apo and Taylor rank third and fourth in the NEC, respectively. Apo and Taylor included, the Pioneers have four players averaging over 32.5 minutes per game.

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Sacred Heart is currently riding high on its three-game winning-streak. All three games were at home and won by an average of 13.6 ppg. The Pioneers are undefeated in NEC play with their 4-0 record on the line this evening. SHU currently has four players averaging double figures, all of which play over 32 minutes per game. The Pioneers are led by two pre-season NEC all-conference team members, Alisa Apo and Callan Taylor. Apo and Taylor are third and fourth in scoring in the NEC, respectively. Taylor is also leading the conference in rebounding, averaging 9.1 per game. If Apo and Taylor were not enough to deal with, junior Maggie Cosgrove and her sharpshooting ability will be. Cosgrove is leading the NEC in 3-point fg percentage having made 40-75 attempts on the season. That is an outstanding 53.3 percent from long-range. The Pioneers also bring a stifling defense to the table that currently leads the conference in points allowed. SHU is only allowing an average of 58.4 ppg.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents in 10 of 14 games so far this season, including all four victories. Bryant is currently second in the NEC in rebounding offense, averaging 41.5 per game. The Bulldogs also sit in second place in rebounding margin, averaging an even four rebounds better than their opponents. Junior Siamone Bennett is ranked 12th in the NEC in overall rebounding and second in the conference in the offensive rebounds category. Bennett averages 6.6 rpg, with more than half of them coming on the offensive end.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
O'Keefe's 33-point performance at Monmouth on Saturday is the most points scored in the Northeast Conference by any player this season. She is currently ranked eighth in the NEC averaging 13.8 ppg. After 14 games, sophomore Lekia Cowen is ranked 4th in the NEC with a 44.4 percent 3-point shooting percentage. Cowen is 20-45 from long range this season. Senior captain Courtney Schermerhorn is also ranked in the top-5 in three-point shooting percentage going 14-32 from beyond the arc for a 42.3 percent mark. On the defensive end, Bennett holds down the post averaging 3.64 blocks per game. Bennett has a team-high 22 blocks on the season and is ranked second in the conference in blocks per game. The junior currently sits in fourth place all-time for blocks in a career at Bryant with 89. She is only nine blocks short of passing Kellie Fournier and moving into third place on the list.

BULLDOGS ON THE AIR
Fans can catch all of the action this year by logging onto www.bryantbulldogs.tv to watch all Bryant home games live online, courtesy of Pack Network. Also this year, track each game live online for free with LIVE STATS by visiting www.bryantbulldogs.com and clicking the Live Stats link.

UP NEXT
Over the next five days, Bryant will face possibly its toughest three-game stretch of the season. After facing Sacred Heart tonight, the Bulldogs will host Quinnipiac on Saturday and Yale on Monday. SHU and Quinnipiac are a combined 7-1 in Northeast Conference play while Yale, who plays a tough schedule, is 5-8 overall.