BULLDOGS LOOK TO EVEN UP CONFERENCE RECORD, HOST WAGNER TONIGHT AT 7 P.M.

Game Notes / Cover It LIVE: live game blog

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team looks for its third win in as many games on Monday, Jan. 31 when they welcome Northeast Conference opponent, Wagner to the Chace Athletic Center for a 7:00 p.m. matchup. The Bulldogs stand at 7-13 overall and 4-5 in the NEC after they knocked off Mount St. Mary's, 79-76, in overtime on Saturday. 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
Tonight's game will be the third meeting all-time between the two programs as the Bulldogs and Seahawks have met once every season since Bryant made the transition to Division I in 2008. Bryant currently holds a 2-0 lead in the series as each team has hosted a home game, starting with the inaugural contest on Feb. 16, 2009 when the Bulldogs won, 71-53, at the Chace Athletic Center. In last year's meeting at the Spiro Sports Center, the Black and Gold prevailed, 74-60, on Feb. 18, 2010 behind Kelsey O'Keefe's 23 points and ten rebounds.   

BRYANT LAST TIME OUT
Down nearly all of the second half, the Bryant University women's basketball team stormed back to force overtime as Siamone Bennett's career-high 24 points carried the Bulldogs past Mount St. Mary's, 79-76, in Northeast Conference play Saturday at the Chace Athletic Center.

Down by one point with 2:39 left in regulation, Bennett gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the second half on a lay-in down low but the Mountaineers forced overtime at the free throw line. Once in overtime, Danielle Douglas put Bryant (7-13, 4-5 NEC) on top with a midrange jumper and Bennett followed with a conventional 3-point play on the next possession for the five-point lead at the 1:48 mark. The Mount (4-16, 1-8 NEC) answered with two quick baskets but the Black and Gold hit the necessary free throws down the stretch for their second consecutive victory.

Bennett added ten rebounds to her career-high 24 points for her second double-double in as many games while Douglas and Katie Whittington chipped in with 15 and 14 points, respectively. Brittany Stahura recorded 11 points and nine rebounds while Meredith Soper added 11 points to round out the double-digit scorers. Mount St. Mary's was led offensively by Mary Dunn's 20 points while Ashley Christie, Kelly Guerriero and Tara Londergan also reached double-figures.  

SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS
Wagner is 9-11 on the season and 2-7 in the Northeast Conference after falling at Central Connecticut, 65-52, Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Marie-Laurence Archambault led the team offensively with a season-high 22 points including 12 points in the first half. The Seahawks are averaging 62.8 points per game and allowing 64.0 ppg. Wagner is well-rounded offensively as Archambault and Kelly Clarke lead the squad with 12.6 points per game while Megan Mahoney is close behind with 12.4 ppg. Clarke is also the team's top rebounder with 6.4 boards per contest.

BRYANT vs. THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
The Bulldogs improved to 4-5 in the NEC after back-to-back home wins over Fairleigh Dickinson and Mount St. Mary's, marking their first win over the Mountaineers in school history. Bryant is now 4-1 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
Siamone Bennett is currently playing her best basketball of the season after logging a pair of double-doubles in as many games, first recording 20 points and 13 rebounds against Fairleigh Dickinson and then netting a career-high 24 points with 10 rebounds versus Mount St. Mary's on Saturday. The New York native went 9-for-17 from the field and 6-for-7 from the free throw line against the Mountaineers, en route to her third double-double of the season. Bennett's performance has been highlighted by clutch plays in both contests as her late baskets have backboned the pair of home victories. Bennett is also tied for fifth in the NEC with 1.10 blocks per game and is the second-best shot-blocker in Bryant history with 127 career rejections.

CLOSING TIME
The Black and Gold picked up their first overtime victory of the season with the win over Mount St. Mary's on Saturday. The Bulldogs dropped two overtime games earlier this winter, first at Lafayette and then home against Dartmouth. It was also the first time this season the Bulldogs have come back to win from a halftime deficit, dropping their first 11 contests when trailing at intermission.

STARTING STRONG
Bryant's win over Mount St. Mary's marked the first time this season that all five starters scored in double-figures. Led by Siamone Bennett's career-high 24 points, Danielle Douglas, Katie Whittington, Meredith Soper and Brittany Stahura all scored at least 11 points. The five players have been the most common lineup for head coach Mary Burke this season while Bennett, Douglas and Soper are the only players to start and play in every game this season.   

UP NEXT
The Black and Gold head back out on the road next weekend with a trip through Pennsylvania as the Bulldogs visit Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday, Feb. 5 at 1:00 p.m. and then travel to Robert Morris on Monday, Feb. 7 for a 7:00 p.m. matchup.