W. Hoops takes on CCSU Wednesday

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SMITHFIELD, R.I. - With the holidays in the rearview mirror, the Bryant University women's basketball team looks to bounce back from a 20-point defeat in its last outing against Holy Cross, as the Bulldogs travel to Central Connecticut to take on the Blue Devils at Detrick Gymnasium.

THE SERIES

Both teams have faced off an even six times since the Bulldogs made the move to the Division I ranks in 2008-09, and coincidentally enough both teams have won three games apiece.  

Bryant took the first win in the series back on Nov. 25, 2008, and went on to win the first three games overall.  The Blue Devils, however, rebounded by winning the last three tilts, including both games played last year and a 61-53 victory in the last match at Detrick Gym on Feb. 14, 2011.

CRUSADERS TOO MUCH FOR BRYANT

The Bryant University women's basketball team's two-game winning streak came to an end against Holy Cross on Dec. 21, as the squad dropped an 82-62 decision at the Hart Recreation Center.

The Bulldogs could not overcome a season-low 25.4 percent field-goal clip from the field on just 18-of-71 shooting, while the Crusaders dropped 31-of-59 for a season-high 52.5 percent from the floor to move.After falling behind by 15 in the first half, the home team kept their lead comfortably intact throughout most of the second frame, using a fast-paced and pass-happy offense to spread the ball all over the floor, helping the Crusaders earn 27 assists – 10 more than the previous season-high for a Bryant opponent – in their winning effort.

Bryant's scoring came mostly from two players, as juniors Katie Whittington and Danielle Douglas combined for 27 of the team's 62 points, with the former edging the latter as the duo garnered 15 and 13 points, respectively.

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS

Losers of three straight, Central Connecticut will look to return to its winning ways after starting the season with four victories in its first five contests.  The Blue Devils have lost each of the last three games (at James Madison; at Hofstra; vs. Auburn) by exactly seven points in each defeat.

The Blue Devils are coming off another strong season in which they posted a 19-11 record and reached the Northeast Conference Tournament Semifinals for the third consecutive season.  Over the last three seasons Coach Beryl Piper and the Blue Devils have won 49 games.

Central has excelled within the friendly confines of Detrick Gymnasium, with the squad owning a 5-1 record at home so far this year.  The Blue Devils posted an impressive 10-2 record at home last season, including a 3-0 record in non-conference games.

Picked to finish one slot behind Bryant and ninth overall in the Preseason NEC Coaches' Poll, the Blue Devils boast two players who average double-digit scoring.  Junior guard Jaclyn Babe leads the pack averaging 14.7 ppg while averaging a team-high 34.5 minutes per game.  Right behind her is classmate Kirsten Daamen  (13.9 ppg), while sophomore Jessica Babe owns a 7.6 rpg average, which is tops on the squad.

LAST YEAR IN NEW BRITAIN

Trailing by 14 with 6:29 left in the second half, the Bryant University women's basketball team mustered a late run to cut the lead to four but it would not be enough as the Bulldogs fell to Central Connecticut, 61-53, on Feb. 14, 2011 at Detrick Gymnasium.

Bryant was led offensively by sophomores Meredith Soper, who had 12 points and eight rebounds, and Danielle Douglas, who also had 12 and added seven boards. Freshman Krista Ferrentino chipped in off the bench with eight points and seven rebounds. 

Justina Udenze paced Central Connecticut (15-9, 8-6 NEC) with a game-high 17 points while Alexandria Dowdy and Kerrianne Dugan added 13 and 11, respectively.  

CAN'T MISS KATIE

Not only did junior guard Katie Whittington lead Bryant in scoring with 15 points in the team's loss at Holy Cross in its last outing, but the Ohio native was impeccable at the free-throw line.  

Whittington went a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe, marking the first time a player had made 10 or more free throws since former Bulldog great Kelsey O'Keefe did so on Feb. 23, 2009.

DOUGLAS DIGGING IN

With 43 points in her last three games, junior guard Danielle Douglas has been one of the most productive players for the Bulldogs, averaging a team-leading 14.3 ppg in that span.

The Silver Springs, Maryland native started her hot stretch with 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting in a blowout at Dartmouth on Dec. 7 before following that up with a career high 20 points in an eight-point win over Lafayette on Dec. 11.  Last time out, the shooting guard dropped 13 at Holy Cross on Dec. 21, which trailed only classmate Katie Whittington on the afternoon.

After a slow start to the year, Douglas has brought her scoring average up to 9.6 ppg through 11 contests.

CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME?

Bryant University Athletics offers more ways than ever before to watch, listen or follow your Bulldogs during all the action even when you can't make it to the court!  Head to www.bryantbulldogs.tv for information about single-game and full- season broadcasting packages, where you can watch webcasts of the Bulldogs for most home games.  Live stats can be found at www.bryantbulldogs.com for every contest, and you can follow @BryantGameday on Twitter for score updates.

NEXT UP

Bryant closes out the 2011 calendar year with a trip to Columbia to battle the Lions for the first time in program history on Friday, Dec. 30.  Opening tip is set for 4:30 p.m.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University women's basketball, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com; also follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.