BULLDOGS HOST MOUNT ST. MARY’S IN NEC MATCHUP SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT 1 PM
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team looks for a second-straight win on Saturday, Jan. 29 as they welcome Mount St. Mary's to the Chace Athletic Center for a Northeast Conference matchup at 1:00 p.m. The Bulldogs improved to 6-13 overall and 3-5 in the NEC after they downed Fairleigh Dickinson, 62-58, on Monday night. Fans can follow all the game action through live stats at www.bryantbulldogs.com or watch a live webcast at www.bryantbulldogs.tv.
THE SERIES
Saturday's game will be the third meeting ever between the two programs as the Bulldogs and Mountaineers have met once every season since Bryant made the transition to Division I in 2008. This will be the first home game of the series for the Bulldogs as Mount St. Mary's captured the inaugural meeting, 71-68, on March 2, 2009 and as well as last year's bout, 56-51, on Feb. 20, 2010. In last year's meeting, then-junior Siamone Bennett paced the Bulldogs with 17 points and 12 rebounds for the double-double while Danielle Douglas added 10 points.
BRYANT LAST TIME OUT
With the game tied at the 1:22 mark, senior Siamone Bennett crashed the boards on a missed shot and put back the offensive rebound for the lay-in to give the Bryant University women's basketball the late lead as the Bulldogs held on to top Fairleigh Dickinson, 62-58, in Northeast Conference action Monday night at the Chace Athletic Center.
Following Bennett's clutch lay-in, the home side made all the necessary free throws down the stretch, including five from sophomore Katie Whittington, as a final 3-pointer from Jasmyra Saunders was not enough to bring the Knights close enough for a comeback.
Bryant (6-13, 3-5 NEC) was led offensively by Bennett who recorded a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Sophomore Meredith Soper added nine points and 11 boards. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 39.3 percent from the floor while holding the visiting Knights to just 24.6 percent.
Fairleigh Dickinson (10-9, 3-5 NEC) was led by Mariyah Laury who netted a game-high 26 points while Alyssa Mayrose added 14 points and seven boards.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Mount St. Mary's is 4-15 on the season and 1-7 in the Northeast Conference after a home loss to Sacred Heart, 56-45, Monday night. Selina Mann paced the Mount with her second career double-double after finishing with 14 points and a program-record 10 steals. As a team, the Mountaineers are averaging 55.5 points per game and allowing 66.6 ppg. Senior Mary Dunn leads the team with 11.1 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game. Selina Mann leads the NEC with 2.89 steals per contest.
BRYANT vs. THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
The Bulldogs improved to 3-5 in the NEC after topping Fairleigh Dickinson Monday night, avenging a loss at the Rothman Center earlier in the season. Bryant is now 3-1 at home and 0-4 on the road in conference play this winter. 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.
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND
Senior Siamone Bennett returned to form in Bryant's win over Farleigh Dickinson Monday night as she recorded a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. She went 8-for 13 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line for her second-best scoring performance of the season after a 22-point effort against Maine. Bennett is also ranked fifth in the NEC with 1.16 blocks per game and is the second-best shot-blocker in Bryant history with 127 career rejections.
CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Black and Gold grabbed a season-high 55 rebounds against Fairleigh Dickinson and limited the Knights to 38 boards. This has been nothing new for the Bulldogs this season as they rank second in the NEC with 41.6 rebounds per game, just behind Long Island at 42.8. Individually, Siamone Bennett and Brittany Stahura rank second and fifth in the conference in offensive rebounds with 3.53 and 3.26, respectively.
UP NEXT
The Black and Gold remain at home on Monday, Jan. 31 when the round out the month with a 7:00 p.m. matchup against Wagner at the Chace Athletic Center.