Bryant, FDU battle on Monday evening

BULLDOGS LOOK TO SWEEP NEC GARDEN STATE FOES 

Full Game Notes
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SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Two days following an impressive victory over a Monmouth University squad that hadn't lost in eight games, the Bryant University women's basketball team looks for the weekend sweep of the Northeast Conference's two New Jersey teams, as the Bulldogs square off against Fairleigh Dickinson looking to make it two wins in a row.  

SERIES HISTORY

 Both the Bulldogs and the Knights have squared off on six different occasions, and one thing holds true in the series: the home team has certainly held the edge. Bryant and Fairleigh Dickinson have split the six encounters with the home team emerging victorious in every meeting.

That trend held true last season when the Bulldogs fell in Hackensack, N.J., 58-48 on Dec. 9, 2010. But the Black and Gold returned the favor on Jan. 24, 2011, as Bryant edged FDU at the Chace Athletic Center, winning by a 62-58 margin.

LAST TIME OUT: BULLDOGS SLIP BY MONMOUTH

The Bryant University women's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak in impressive fashion Saturday afternoon, edging visiting Monmouth, 55-49, in Northeast Conference action at the Chace Athletic Center.

Despite shooting just 28.8 percent from the field (17-of-59), the Bulldogs held an opponent below 50 points for just the fourth time this season on an outstanding defensive effort while snapping the Hawks' eight-game winning streak in the process.

Only two Bulldogs recorded double-digit scoring, as sophomore Naana Ankoma-Mensa led all players with 14 points while junior Danielle Douglas finished the day with 11 points and seven steals – one shy of her personal best in the takeaway department. 

Despite the low offensive totals, Bryant was dominant in the paint indicative of its 53-39 advantage in rebounding. Senior Brittany Stahura managed to haul in a career-high 16 boards – two ahead of junior Meredith Soper's 14 rebounds.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS

Looking to end a three-game losing streak, Fairleigh Dickinson heads to the Smithfield in search of its first victory since downing LIU Brooklyn (71-65) on the road on Jan. 16.

The Bulldogs will have their hands full with Preseason All-NEC  Team member and 2010-11 All-NEC First Team selection Mariyah Laury and her team-leading 16.4 ppg. The Orange, N.J., native averaged 15.2 ppg last year and had an impressive outing in the two teams' last meeting with 26 points and six steals. Sophomore Danielle Pankey is also a threat with 10.7 ppg, while Desiree Crawford's 27 rejections rank fifth in the NEC.

The Knights shoot a league-worst 35.5 percent from the field (425-of-1198) and 27.3 percent from long range (74-of-271) on the season, but FDU has fared well in the paint, averaging 5.10 blocks per game and 40.5 offensive rebounds per game to rank first and fourth in the league, respectively, in those categories.

Fairleigh Dickinson is 3-7 in away games this season. Interesting to note is that FDU has been outscored by 97 points in the first half in 21 total games (630-527).

LAST YEAR AGAINST THE KNIGHTS

Dec. 9, 2010 - at FDU

Sophomore Danielle Douglas netted a career-high 19 points, including 16 in the second half, but it was not enough to keep up with Fairleigh Dickinson as the Bryant University women's basketball team fell, 58-48, Thursday night in its Northeast Conference opener at Stratis Arena.

Facing a 31-20 deficit at halftime, the Bulldogs opened the second stanza with a 14-4 run to tie the game but FDU responded with seven straight points, building a large enough lead to hold on for the victory.   The 19-point performance marked the third double-digit effort in as many games for Douglas as the sophomore shot 7-for-16 from the floor. Senior Siamone Bennett and junior Brittany Stahura grabbed 12 and 11 boards, respectively.

Mariyah Laury scored 18 points for the Knights while teammate Esther Wallace blocked seven shots as FDU shot 31 percent from the field.    

Jan. 24, 2011 - at Bryant

With the game tied at the 1:22 mark, senior Siamone Bennett crashed the boards on a missed shot and put back the offensive rebound for the lay-in to give the Bryant University women's basketball team a 62-58 win over Fairleigh Dickinson on Jan. 24, 2011 in Northeast Conference action.

Following Bennett's clutch lay-in, the home side made all the necessary free throws down the stretch, including five from sophomore Katie Whittington, as a final 3-pointer from Jasmyra Saunders was not enough to bring the Knights close enough for a comeback.     

Bryant was led offensively by Bennett who recorded a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. Sophomore Meredith Soper added nine points and 11 boards. As a team, the Bulldogs shot 39.3 percent from the floor while holding the visiting Knights to just 24.6 percent.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED YOUR STAY

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 wrap up a season-long four-game home stretch that began last weekend at the conclusion of tonight's showdown. The Bulldogs were home from Jan. 21 through today's game, and now hit the road for three straight games.

The Bulldogs have posted a 7-3 record at the Chace this year, and are 28-18 (.609) in Smithfield since the start of the 2008-09 season.  Last year, Bryant went 7-6 with a 5-4 mark against NEC teams within the friendly confines of The Chace.

DOUGLAS IS DANDY

Leading the squad with 32 points in both of Bryant's contests last weekend, Danielle Douglas continues to dazzle in the month of January. The Silver Springs, Md., native added a team-high six steals, 10 rebounds (second-most) and shot 12-of-34 from the field (.353) while averaging 32 minutes against both Quinnipiac and CCSU last week.

The month of January has been special for the junior guard. In eight games, Douglas has averaged 33.5 minutes (2nd), shot 36.8 percent from the field (35-95), dished 22 assists, garnered 21 steals (2nd) and totaled 108 points for a scoring average of 13.5 ppg, trailing sophomore Naana Ankoma-Mensa by six points. That stretch includes a career-high 26 points at Wagner on Jan. 16.

A BOBCAT BEATDOWN

The Bulldogs' 37-point defeat against Quinnipiac last weekend now stands as the worst defeat for the Bulldogs this season, topping the previous record OF A 26-point defeat set against BC.

The 87 points allowed by Bryant against Quinnipiac represents the most scored by an opponent this season. The Bulldogs gave up 80+ points once more this year: at Holy Cross on Dec. 21 during an 82-62 defeat.

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.