BULLDOGS FACE THIRD IVY LEAGUE OPPONENT OF THE SEASON, HOST DARTMOUTH SUNDAY AFTERNOON (1 P.M.)

Nov. 27, 2010

BULLDOGS FACE THIRD IVY LEAGUE OPPONENT OF THE SEASON, HOST DARTMOUTH SUNDAY AFTERNOON (1 P.M.)

Game Notes 

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team looks for its first victory of the season Sunday, Nov. 28 when the Bulldogs welcome the Big Green of Dartmouth to the Chace Athletic Center for a 1 p.m. matchup. 

THE SERIES

Sunday's game will be the third meeting all-time between the two programs as the Bulldogs have met the Big Green every season since making the transition to Division I in 2008. Dartmouth holds a 2-0 advantage in the series including a 57-47 win in Hanover, N.H. last year. The first meeting came on Jan. 24, 2009 when the Bulldogs fell at home, 71-56, despite a double-double from then-junior, Kelsey O'Keefe.

LAST TIME OUT

Sophomore Meredith Soper recorded her second double-double of the season (10 points, 10 rebounds) and senior Siamone Bennett added 13 points but the Bryant University women's basketball team could not climb back from a slow start as the Bulldogs fell to Brown, 57-49, Tuesday night at the Pizzitola Sports Center.   

Bennet also chipped in with nine boards in the contest as the Bulldogs dropped to 0-4 overall. The Bears (2-2) had four players score in double-digits while Lauren Clarke led all scorers with 15 points.  

DARTMOUTH'S LAST TIME OUT

Following four straight road losses to open the season, the Big Green downed Vermont, 66-51- on Nov. 24 in their home-opener. Dartmouth shot 43 percent from the field and was led offensively by Brittney Smith. The senior netted a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds while three other players – Cassie Cooper, Louise VandenBosch, Faziah Steen – reached double digits in scoring.

SCOUTING THE BIG GREEN

Dartmouth picked up its first win of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 24 with a 66-51 victory over Vermont in the Big Green's 2010-11 home-opener. The Big Green opened their season with four straight road losses including a pair of defeats to Boston College and Marist at the TD Bank Classic at Vermont. In five games this season, senior Brittney Smith leads the team with just over 12 points per game and 10 boards per contest to average a double-double. The reigning Ivy League Player of the Year also ranks first on the squad with 15 steals including a game-high seven steals against Vermont. As a team, Dartmouth is netting 52.4 points per game and is shooting .319 from 3-point land.  

DOUBLE TROUBLE
With 10 points and 10 rebounds, sophomore Meredith Soper recorded her second double-double of the season at Brown Tuesday night. The Boston native also enjoyed a 14-point, 10-rebound performance at Lafayette on Nov. 14. Siamone Bennett has the other Bryant double-double this season when she exploded for 22 points and 17 rebounds in the home-opener against Maine on Nov. 19.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Through the first three games this season, Bryant has had no trouble putting points up on the board as the team leads the Northeast Conference with 63.5 points per game, just ahead of Wagner (62.7 ppg). The team also tops the league in steals per game (10.5).

CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Bulldogs have been masters of the glass this season as the team is ranked first in the Northeast Conference with 23 offensive rebounds per game. Leading the way down low is Siamone Bennett, who is tied for a league-leading 9.8 boards per game with Long Island's Ashley Palmer. 

BLOCK PARTY
With a season-high four blocked shots at Brown, Siamone Bennett leads the team with eight rejections this season. Bennett is ranked second in the NEC with two blocks per game, just behind St. Francis (NY)'s Kiley Grabbe (2.33). Bennett is the second-best shot blocker in Bryant history with 113 career rejections. 

UP NEXT
The Black and Gold next head out to Colorado Springs, Colo. on Nov. 3-4 when they take on Air Force and Weber State in the Air Force Classic.