Bulldogs host Dartmouth in season opener

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL OPENS 2012-13 CAMPAIGN AT HOME VS. THE BIG GREEN ON SAT. AT 1 PM

Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University women's basketball team kicks off its 2012-13 campaign when they host Dartmouth College on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 1 p.m.  The Bulldogs are entering their fifth season competing at the Division I level, marking the program's first season of Division I postseason eligibility. 

Bryant enters its first year of Division I postseason eligibility after a mandatory four-year reclassification period. The 2012-13 season will be the programs fifth year competing at the Division I level. Last season the Bulldogs set a Division I program record for wins in a season, finishing the year with a 14-15 overall record. Despite not being eligible for postseason competition, the Bulldogs completed conference play at 7-11, good for ninth place in the NEC standings.

The Bulldogs and Big Green head into Saturday's season-opener having met four times since the 2008 season - Bryant's first year as a Division I program.  Dartmouth holds a commanding 3-1 lead in the all-time series, however most recently, Bryant came away with a 63-45 victory in Hanover, N.H., on Dec. 7, 2011.

Led by a 20-point outing from senior Katie Whittington, the Bulldogs defeated the Big Green 63-45 last December at Leede Arena. Both Whittington and classmate Meredith Soper knocked down three 3-pointers en route to an 18-point victory over the Ivy League-foe. Soper added 12 rebounds to her 16 points effort, while junior Naana Ankoma-Mensa put up 10 points, three steals and a career-high 17 rebounds. Senior Danielle Douglas added 10 points, three steals and two assists in 32 minutes of play. 

The Big Green finished last season with a 6-22 overall record, going 4-10 in the Ivy League. Dartmouth returns three-time All-Ivy League, senior and co-captain Faziah Steen who became Dartmouth's 16th 1,000-point scorer in 2011-12 and enters the season with 1,025 career points placing her 15th on Dartmouth's all-time scoring list. 
Selected to finish seventh in the Ivy League Preseason Poll, the Big Green will also rely heavily on juniors Nicola Zimmer and Eve Zelinger and sophomore Tia Dawson. Last season Zimmer averaged over 33 minutes per game, leading her team with 3.5 assists per game, while Dawson averaged seven points and seven rebounds per game. 

For links to live stats and streaming video of Saturday's action and all the latest news on Bryant University women's basketball, visit BryantBulldogs.com.