WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SET TO OPEN 2010-11 SEASON AT PENN FRIDAY NIGHT

Nov. 11, 2010

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SET TO OPEN 2010-11 SEASON AT PENN FRIDAY NIGHT

Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team opens up the 2010-11 season Friday night at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pa. The game will take place at The Palestra at 7 p.m. in the first meeting ever between the two programs. The Bulldogs posted a 13-16 record last season (10-8 Northeast Conference), while the Quakers went 2-26 in the Ivy League.

The Bulldogs return three starters from last season as they enter their third year at the Division I level and are led by the veteran leadership of captains Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) and Lindsey Hudspeth (Mount Laurel, N.J.). Sophomores Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) and Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) return to the starting lineup after gaining valuable playing time during their rookie campaigns. Head Coach Mary Burke enters her 20th season at the helm and welcomes a group of nine rookies to the bench as the coaching staff looks for the talented newcomers to play big minutes immediately.

SCOUTING THE QUAKERS

This season, Penn returns six letterwinners and three starters from last year's squad that went 1-13 in the Ivy League and 2-26 overall. Head coach Mike McLaughlin, going into his second season at the helm, welcomes five incoming freshman to a young roster that features seven underclassmen. Junior forward Jess Knapp ranked second on the team in scoring last winter with 6.7 points per game in 28 games played. The New Jersey native should prove to be a factor down low as well after collecting 6.8 rebounds per game in 2009-10.   

BRYANT vs. THE IVY LEAGUE

Although new to the D-I ranks, the Bulldogs are no strangers to the Ivy League, taking on the likes of Cornell, Brown, Yale, and Dartmouth. Bryant will look for its second ever win against a member of the Ivy League with the lone victory coming last January when the Black and Gold knocked off Yale, 69-62, at home. The Bulldogs now stand at 1-6 in games against the Ivy League and will get another shot to improve on that mark later in the season when they visit Brown on Nov. 23 and host Dartmouth on Nov. 28.

BRYANT IN SEASON OPENERS

Historically, the Bryant women have been remarkable in season openers, putting together a 25-8 record in 33 tip-off games since the program's inception in 1977. Dating back to the 1998-99 season, the Bulldogs had won 11 consecutive openers before falling in last year's opening bout at Dartmouth, 47-57, in just their second season at Division I. The Bulldogs captured their first D-I opener in 2008, knocking off New Hampshire, 69-66, on the road.