Bryant wraps up 2011 at Columbia

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SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team will look to end the 2011 calendar year on a high note, as the Bulldogs take on Columbia University for the first time in program history at Levien Gymnasium.

THE SERIES

This is the first meeting between both teams.

BULLDOGS HOLD OFF CCSU FOR FIRST CONFERENCE VICTORY

Leading by 14 points with 10 minutes remaining, the Bryant University women's basketball team withstood a vigorous rally by host Central Connecticut State University, but the comeback eventually fell short, as the Bulldogs picked up a resounding 68-62 win at Detrick Gymnasium for the team's first conference victory of the season on Wednesday afternoon.

With nearly 30 minutes of game time already completed, the Bulldogs appeared to be on their way to a comfortable victory and lead by as many as 17 points early in the second frame.  But the Blue Devils came alive late in the second half, and scored 41 points altogether in that frame after mustering just 21 points in the first stanza.

Up 49-38 with 7:01 to play, CCSU hit a three-pointer that set the crowd and the home team on a run that would bring them to within 54-51 with just over four minutes to play.  But the Bulldogs took over from that point, outscoring CCSU, 14-11, in the last minutes of the game to come away with the thrilling victory.

SCOUTING THE LIONS

Entering Friday with a 1-10 overall record, Columbia will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss, as the Lions fell to Fairleigh Dickinson on the road on Wednesday, 71-51. Senior Melissa Shafer had one of her best offensive performances of the season, notching 18 points, while freshman Caitlyn Unsworth had a collegiate career high six points, as she drained two threes in the first half, but shot 2-for-10 from behind the arc. Sophomore Taylor Ward had five steals on defense to help Columbia rally in the second half, but Fairleigh Dickinson held on for the win.

Columbia has had seven different players lead scoring in 11 games this season, highlighting a balanced attack for the Lions. Senior Melissa Shafer leads the Lions with 10.7 ppg, with the highlight of her season coming against Vermont with 17 points, while Taylor Ward (8.1 ppg) and Tyler Simpson (7.8 ppg) rank second and third, respectively.

Seventh-year bench boss led an extremely young squad to a fourth-place finish in the Ivy League in 2010-11, but the squad has experienced growing pains this year, with just two seniors on the roster and nine underclassmen - including six freshmen.

The Lions will be looking to snap a five-game losing streak, with the team's lone victory coming against Army - Bryant's next opponent - on Nov. 27.  Columbia has played five NEC teams before today, and is winless against the conference.

DOUGLAS DIGGING IN

After a slow start to the 2011-12 season, last year's leading scorer Danielle Douglas has begun to pick up her game, raising her scoring average up to 10.3 ppg through 11 contests.  
With 50 points in her last three games, Douglas has been one of the most productive players for the Bulldogs during their 2-1 stretch, averaging a team-leading 16.7 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.  In the next game, the shooting guard dropped 13 at Holy Cross on Dec. 21, which trailed only classmate Katie Whittington on the afternoon.

Most recently, she led all Bryant players with 17 points in a victory over conference foe CCSU.

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 on Dec. 21, 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.

HIT THE ROAD, JACK 

Bryant will finish the 2011 calendar year with its eighth road game of the year. The Bulldogs have only seen action on their home court on four occasions, with the last game at The Chace coming against Lafayette on Dec. 11 - the team's only home tilt in the entire month of December.  

After a stretch that took the Bulldogs on the road in 5-of-6 contests, Bryant will return home in 2012 to take on Army on Jan. 3 in a month that will see the Bulldogs play 7-of-9 games at home.

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 takes on Army at home in its first outing in 2012, welcoming the Black Knights on Wednesday, Jan. 3 with opening tip set for 3 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center.

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