BULLDOGS SEEK FOUR IN A ROW AT SAINT FRANCIS (PA) SATURDAY AT NOON

Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team looks to continue with its winning ways against defending Northeast Conference champion, Saint Francis (PA), on Saturday at DeGol Arena in Loretto, Pa. for a noon matchup. The Bulldogs, fresh off three-straight home victories, stand at 8-13 on the season and 5-5 in conference play.

THE SERIES
Saturday's game will be the third meeting all-time between the two programs as the Bulldogs and Red Flash have met once every season since Bryant made the transition to Division I in 2008 with each team winning at home. In last year's meeting at the Chace Athletic Center, the Bulldogs won, 89-76, behind then-freshman Meredith Soper's 18 points. The Red Flash downed the Bulldogs, 80-75, on Jan. 31 2009 in the inaugural game of the series. 

BRYANT LAST TIME OUT
Led by a pair of double-double performances from senior Siamone Bennett and freshman Naana Ankoma-Mensa, the Bryant University women's basketball team downed Wagner, 61-51, in Northeast Conference play Jan. 31 at the Chace Athletic Center

Facing a five-point deficit at halftime, the Seahawks managed to trim the lead down to one point with 4:52 left to play, but Bryant (8-13, 5-5 NEC) answered with an 8-0 run, capped off with back-to-back treys from Meredith Soper to stave off the Wagner (9-12, 2-8 NEC) comeback.

Bennett recorded a game-high 17 points and added ten rebounds for her third-straight double-double while Ankoma-Mensa accomplished the feat for the first time in her career with 12 points and ten boards. Sophomores Soper and Danielle Douglas also scored in double-figures with 11 and 10, respectively. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 37.5 percent from the floor en route to their third-straight victory while the Seahawks shot at a 25 percent clip.

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis (PA) is 13-9 on the season and 8-2 in the conference after splitting a pair of games to Connecticut rivals, Sacred Heart and Quinnipiac last week. Samantha Leach scored 23 points to lead the Red Flash past Quinnipiac, 76-64, and back into first-place in the NEC. As a team, the Red Flash are averaging 68.3 points per game and allowing 68.7 ppg. Leach leads the team with 17.0 points per game while Brittany Lilley and Allison Daly are close behind with 12.2 and 12.0 ppg, respectively. Shene Fleming is the team's top rebounder with 7.4 boards per contest.

BRYANT vs. THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE
The Bulldogs improved to 5-5 in the NEC after three-straight home wins over Fairleigh Dickinson, Mount St. Mary's and Wagner. Bryant is now 5-1 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.

BENNETT EARNS NEC CO-PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior forward Siamone Bennett was named the Northeast Conference Co-Player of the Week on Feb. 1, along with Sacred Heart's Maggie Cosgrove. Spearheading Bryant's winning effort in back-to-back games, Bennett turned in double-doubles against Mount St. Mary's and Wagner. Bennett's monster two-game sample yielded an average of 20.5 points and 10.0 rebounds as the Bulldogs evened their NEC record at 5-5. The senior scored a season-high 24 points, accounting for her third 20-point game of the year, in a 79-76 overtime victory over the Mount.  She made 9 of 17 field goal attempts, nailed 6 of 7 free throws, and capped the home win with a key three in overtime.  Bennett's conventional three-point play extended the Bulldogs' lead to 77-72 with 1:48 remaining in the extra session.  Bennett went for 17 points and 10 rebounds to lift Bryant over Wagner two nights later.  The 6-foot-2 forward is the second Bulldog ever to win the Choice Hotels Player of the Week award, joining the likes of former all-NEC first team forward Kelsey O'Keefe who captured the honor on February 15, 2010.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
With 48 team rebounds against Wagner, the Black and Gold won the battle of the boards for the 15th time this season as they have now outrebounded their opponent in seven out of eight wins. The Bulldogs rank second in the NEC with 42.1 rebounds per game, just behind Long Island at 42.9. Individually, Siamone Bennett and Brittany Stahura rank first and fourth in offensive rebounds with 3.71 and 3.29, respectively. 

UP NEXT
The Black and Gold will continue with a tour through the Keystone State, traveling to Moon Township, Pa. on Monday, Feb. 7 for a matchup against Robert Morris at 7:00 p.m.