WBB hosts Iona in home opener

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Fresh off a thrilling, comeback victory in its season opener last Friday, the Bryant University women's basketball team will look to make it a 2-0 start to the season when it hosts Iona College in its season opener tonight in Smithfield, R.I.  

The Bulldogs (1-0) and Gaels (1-1) will be meeting for the first time in the history of both programs.  Iona has split its first two matchups in 2011-12, downing North Carolina A&T before falling to Villanova in the championship game of the Iona College Tip-Off Tournament in New Rochelle, N.Y.

A PHENOMENAL FRIDAY COMEBACK

Trailing by as many as 20 points at one point, the Bryant University women's basketball team mounted a tremendous rally to stun Colgate University, 76-74, in a thrilling season-opening victory on Nov. 11 at Cotterell Court.

Led by a team-high 20-point output from Jenniqua Bailey (Bloomfield, Conn.), the Bulldogs did not blink in the face of an early deficit, stringing together runs of 9-0 and 14-0 in the first half before outshooting the Raiders by 10 points in the second stanza to make their first matchup of the season a memorable one.

The Bulldogs took the lead for good with 14:55 to go in the second half after junior Katie Whittington (Twinsburg, Ohio) nailed a pair of 3-pointers to put Bryant up by two.  From that point on, the Bulldogs held as large as a seven-point lead, but the home team made it interesting in the waning moments of regulation, clawing back to within one, but the Bulldogs held on for the two-point victory.

Along with Bailey, the Bulldogs saw double-digit games from Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) (15),  Whittington (12) and Steph Cardamone (Freehold, N.J.) (11).  The latter two combined for all seven of the team's three-pointers, with Whittington hitting four treys and Cardamone draining three.

BAILEY'S BIG DAY

With her team in an early deficit in front of a hostile home crowd, the Bulldogs turned to sophomore Jenniqua Bailey in a time of need, and the Connecticut native came through in a big way, setting new career-highs in points (20), free made (8), free throws attempted (11) and assists (4).  Twelve of those points came in the first half, as the sophomore was instrumental in a pair of key runs that allowed Bryant to get back in the game.

IN THE PAINT, IN YOUR FACE

Against the Raiders, Bryant poured in a prolific 36 points from in the paint.  Helping them reach that mark was their 22 offensive boards.  In total, Bryant outrebounded Colgate by a 43-28 margin.  The team's +15.0 rebounding margin through one game is already good enough for tops in the Northeast Conference, where the Bulldogs were leaders in all rebounding statistical categories last season.

SCOUTING THE GAELS

Currently receiving votes in the first CollegeInsider.com Women's Mid-Major Top 25  poll, Iona is looking to improve upon an 11-20 season from a year ago.  The Gaels were a .500 team at home last year, but a paltry 5-11on the road and 0-3 at neutral-site contests.  

The Gaels bring back a bulk of their scoring from a year ago, with Krista Ford (23.0 ppg) leading the pack through two games this season. The senior forward also hauled down the most boards in 2010-11, pacing the team with 6.2 rebounds per game. 

Behind Ford, Iona will look to fellow seniors Tomica Bacic and Suzi Fergosi this season.  Bacic posted 7.6 ppg  5.6 rpg last year, while Fregosi enters the season in fourth place among Iona's all-time assist leaders.  Other probable starters include sophomore forward  Sabrina Jeridore and freshman Damika Martinez.

Iona welcomes four newcomers to the program this year in freshmen Martinez, Briana Graham and Aleesha Powell along with junior Jiya Darcas-Eya .  Martinez was ranked among the Top 25 point guards in the Class of 2011 by ESPNU and is included in ESPNU's Top 100 National rankings. 

Through two games, the Gaels have posted a 1-1 record, taking down North Carolina A&T by a comfortable 85-69 margin before falling to Villanova, 76-47, a day later.

HOME SWEET HOME

The Black and Gold made the most of their 13 home contests in 2010-11, posting a 7-6 mark within the friendly confines of the Chace Athletic Center.  Adding to that impressive feat, the Bulldogs have gone 21-15 (.583) at home since they began Division I play in 2008.

To that testament, however, the Bulldogs were just 3-13 away from Smithfield, R.I., last season, including a neutral-site loss to Weber St. in the Air Force Tournament.  Since 2008, and including neutral-site games, Bryant owns a .255 winning percentage in all games not played at the Chace Athletic Center.

UP NEXT

Bryant will round out the week with another voyage up north, this time making the trek up to Orono, Maine, where the Bulldogs will face off against the University of Maine on Saturday (Nov. 19) afternoon.  Game time against the Black Bears is set for 1 p.m.