BULLDOGS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK IN NEC ACTION, VISIT QUINNIPIAC MONDAY AFTERNOON (1:00 P.M.)

Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team returns to the Constitution State on Monday afternoon when the Bulldogs visit Hamden, Conn. to face Northeast Conference foe Quinnipiac for a 1:00 p.m. matchup at the TD Bank Sports Center. Fans can follow the game through live stats on www.quinnipiacbobcats.com or watch a live webcast on www.northeastcoference.tv.

THE SERIES
Monday's game will be a reunion between two longtime Division II rivals as the Bulldogs hold a 17-12 edge over their former Northeast-10 opponent. Bryant is also 2-1 in the series since making the transition to Division I in 2008, including a season sweep of the Bobcats last winter. In last season's meeting at the TD Bank Sports Center, then-freshman Meredith Soper scored 17 points to help Bryant down Quinnipiac, 67-42. The Bulldogs also won at home, 72-62, on Jan. 16 at the Chace Athletic Center.  

BRYANT LAST TIME OUT
Sophomore Meredith Soper scored 12 points and added seven rebounds but the Bryant University women's basketball team could not hold off a late second half surge by Sacred Heart as the Bulldogs fell, 54-44, Saturday afternoon in Northeast Conference action at the William H. Pitt Center.

Callan Taylor led the way offensively for the Pioneers as the junior scored a game-high 26 points and 16 rebounds for the double-double, including 11 points in the final eight minutes to give the home side the late advantage and eventual victory.

Sophomore Danielle Douglas added nine points for visitors while senior Siamone Bennett grabbed eight boards. As a team, the Bryant (5-11,2-3 NEC) shot 35.6 percent from the floor on 16-for-45 shooting while Sacred Heart (10-6, 4-1 NEC) shot 27.8 from the field.   

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Quinnipiac is 7-9 on the season and 4-1 in the Northeast Conference after picking up a thrilling victory over Central Connecticut, 76-75, Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Felicia Barron hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Bobcats to their fourth NEC win of the season. Senior Courtney Kaminski led the way offensively with a career-high 32 points. As a team, the Bobcats are averaging 63.1 points per game and allowing 69.6 ppg. Kaminski leads the team with 13.1 points per game while Barron is averaging 10.9 ppg. Kaminski is also the team's top rebounder with 5.7 boards per contest.   

BRYANT vs. THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
The Bulldogs dipped to 2-3 in the NEC with the loss at Sacred Heart Saturday after picking up back-to-back home wins over St. Francis (NY) and Long Island last weekend. Bryant is now 2-0 at home and 0-3 on the road in conference play this season.  Now in their third year at the Division I level, the Bulldogs have put together a 17-16 record against members of the Northeast Conference since 2008. In two years, Bryant has yet to have a losing record against the NEC after going 6-6 in its inaugural DI season and 10-8 last winter. Additionally, the Bulldogs closed out the NEC slate in strong fashion last season, winning nine out of their final 15 contests.  

SUPER SOPER
Meredith Soper enjoyed a solid performance in Bryant's loss at Sacred Heart Saturday, pacing the team with 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting from the field, including a pair of 3-pointers. The sophomore also added seven rebounds and tied a career-high with five assists. She now ranks third on the squad with 9.3 points per game and is one of three players to start and play in every game this season. A 2009-10 NEC All-Rookie Team selection, Soper is also a force on the glass as she leads the Bulldogs with 7.2 rebounds per contest.  

ROAD WOES
The Bulldogs seem to be a different team when playing on the road this season as they are just 1-7 when away from the friendly confines of the Chace Athletic Center. The lone road win came back on Dec. 3 at the Air Force Tournament when Bryant toppled the host Falcons, 79-74. When at home, however, the Bulldogs own a 4-2 record and have won their last four contests played in Smithfield, R.I, including the most recent victory over preseason conference favorite, Long Island.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Bulldogs have proved to be masters of the glass this season as they currently rank second in the NEC with 41.0 rebounds per game, just one spot behind Long Island (43.0). As a team, Bryant tops the NEC with 16.31 offensive rebounds per game while Brittany Stahura and Siamone Bennett rank second and third with an average of 3.50 and 3.44 offensive rebounds per game, respectively.      

EMPIRE STATE OF MIND
With 785 career points, Siamone Bennett needs just eight tallies to reach the 800-point plateau and with 578 rebounds, the senior needs 10 boards to move up to the No. 5 spot in the program's rebounding ranks. Bennett is enjoying another solid season for the Bulldogs as she ranks second on the team in both scoring (9.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg). Her signature game of the season came at home against Maine as she scored a season-high 22 points and pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds. The Newburgh, N.Y. native also ranks fifth in the NEC with 1.25 blocks per game and is the second-best shot-blocker in Bryant history with 125 career rejections.

PICKPOCKETS
In 16 games this season, the Bulldogs lead the NEC with 154 steals, averaging 9.63 steals per game, with the next closest team being Saint Francis (PA) at 9.41 steals per game. Leading the way is sophomore Danielle Douglas, who ranks fourth in the NEC with a 2.38 thefts per game, including a trio of five-steal games against Dartmouth, Fairleigh Dickinson and St. Francis (NY). She has also recorded at least one steal in every game this season.   

COMMON DENOMINATOR
The Bulldogs and Bobcats have faced off against three non conference opponents this season in Lafayette, Holy Cross and Army of the Patriot League. While both Bryant and Quinnipiac fell to Lafayette, the two teams split against the other opponents. The Bulldogs topped the Crusaders, 59-47, while the Bobcats downed the Black Knights, 69-65.    

UP NEXT
After Monday's game, the Black and Gold round out the month of January with four consecutive home games as they host Monmouth, Fairleigh Dickinson, Mount St. Mary's and Wagner. Bryant opens the four-game home stand against the Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 22 for a 1:00 p.m. matchup.