WBB turns to conference play with SFU

WBB turns to conference play with Saint Francis (PA) 

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Date: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012
Time: 1:00 pm
Place: Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield, R.I.
Watch: www.bryantbulldogs.tv
NEC Webcast: NortheastConference.tv

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After rounding out its non-conference schedule with a 10-point victory over Army, the Bryant University women's basketball team begins its 16-game voyage exclusively against Northeast Conference foes this weekend, as Keystone State partners Saint Francis (PA) and Robert Morris travel to Smithfield for a pair of games at the Chace Athletic Center.

THE SERIES

 Bryant and Saint Francis (PA) have met there times since the Bulldogs began Division I play in 2008-09.  The Red Flash hold a slim 2-1 edge in the series, winning the first outing in January of 2009 and most recently last February.

LAST TIME OUT: BULLDOGS TAKE DOWN ARMY

The Bulldogs returned to the Chace Athletic Center for the first time in three games and opened the New Year with an exciting 64-54 victory over the visiting Army Black Knights on Jan. 3, 2012.

With a one-point lead with 4:12 left in regulation, the Bulldogs took control in the final minutes of the game with strong defense and clutch three-point shooting, sending the Black Knights to their seventh straight loss.

Four different players registered double-digit scoring figures for the third time this season, with junior Katie Whittington and sophomore Courtney Schissler leading the home team with 16 points apiece. 

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH

The preseason favorite to win its third straight league title, Saint Francis (PA) heads to Smithfield amidst a three-game losing streak while sporting an overall record of 5-8, but the Red Flash are perfect in conference play having previously beaten Fairleigh Dickinson (69-56) and Monmouth (82-69) in consecutive games back last month.

SFU has had its share of struggles away from Loretto, Pa., falling in six of its eight games not played at home - including a 2-5 away record and a neutral-site loss to Saint Louis in the Seattle University/Delta Dental Holiday Hoops Tournament held in Seattle.

Preseason injuries hit SFU hard, as Senior Brittany Lilley and junior captain Shené Fleming suffered knee injuries that will keep them out of the entire season.  Fleming led the Red Flash in rebounding last season, while Lilley was an All-NEC second-team selection.

A back-to-back NEC Player of the Week earlier in the season, sophomore Alli Williams ranks second in the conference in scoring and first on the team with 17.5 ppg with a 50.0 percent field-goal percentage on the year.  She also leads the team in rebounding with 9.4 boards per game.

SFU ranks last in scoring defense and defensive field goal percentage, allowing opponents to score an average of 72.2 ppg and shoot 42.5 percent on the year, respectively.

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE RED FLASH

The all-around effort of reigning Northeast Conference champion Saint Francis (PA) proved to be too much for the Bryant University women's basketball team as the Bulldogs snapped a three-game winning streak after falling, 73-59, Saturday afternoon in NEC action on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011.

Sophomore Meredith Soper paced the Bulldogs offensively with 11 points and seven rebounds while junior Brittany Stahura and freshman Jenniqua Bailey added eight points apiece. As a team, Bryant shot 37.1 percent from the floor.

Saint Francis benefited from Bryant's inability to hang onto the ball as the Red Flash scored 26 points off a season-high 31 Bulldog turnovers. Samantha Leach led the Red Flash scoring attack with a game-high 16 points while three other Red Flash players reached double-figures.       

HOME AFTER THE HOLIDAYS

After playing just one game within the friendly confines of the Chace Athletic Center in the month of December and after playing eight of its first 12 games this season on the road, Bryant will finally get to spend some time in Smithfield in the coming weeks.

After opening the New Year with a 10-point victory over Army on Jan. 3, the Bulldogs will see action at home in two straight games, including today's contest.  The Bulldogs will make their only road trip of the month the following weekend when they take on Mount St. Mary's (Jan. 14) and Wagner (Jan. 16), but after that the team will open a season-long four-game home streak that will take them through the rest of January.

The Bulldogs have posted a 4-1 record at the Chace so far this year, with wins over Brown (64-49); URI (75-62); Lafayette (56-48) and Army (64-54), with their only home loss coming against Iona back on Nov. 15.  Bryant posted a 7-6 home record last season, including a 5-4 mark against NEC competition.

NOTHIN' BUT THE NORTHEAST

Wrapping up its non-conference slate with a 7-4 record, the Bulldogs will play out the remainder of their 16 games against solely NEC competition.

Nine of those games will be played at home, including two this weekend against preseason favorite Saint Francis (PA) and Robert Morris.  Last year, the Bulldogs finished 7-11 in NEC play, finishing in a tie for eighth place.  The top eight teams qualify for the postseason NEC Tournament, with the winner receiving an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.  Bryant will not be eligible for postseason competition until the 2012-13 season.

WONDERFUL WHITTINGTON

For the second time this season, junior Katie Whittington managed to go a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line in one game, accomplishing the feat on a second occasion in Bryant's victory over Army.

The Twinsburg, Ohio native first hit that prolific mark during the Bulldogs' tough loss at Holy Cross on Dec. 21.  Whittington's 10-for-10 free-throw clip marked one of the few bright spots in the game for the Bulldogs.

Whittington's 86.7 percent success rate at the foul line is second to none in the Northeast Conference.  She has converted 52 tries in 60 attempts at the charity stripe this season.

SOME LOVE FROM LONG RANGE

Sporting a 33.0 percent three-point field-goal percentage on 62-of-188 made shots from beyond the arc this season, the Bulldogs have begun to their stride from downtown, ranking second in the conference with that mark.  

Junior Katie Whittington has led the charge from three-point land, posting a 34.3 percent three-point clip on 24-of-70 shooting, while sophomore Courtney Schissler's smaller sample size of 16-of-36 shooting is good for a 44.4 percent mark from long range.

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 rounds out its weekend series against its Pennsylvania rivals when Robert Morris heads to town on Monday evening.  Tip-off at the Chace Athletic Center is set for 7 p.m.