Bulldogs head south to URI

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FACES-OFF WITH URI TUESDAY NIGHT IN KINGSTON, R.I.

Game Notes

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- The Bryant University women's basketball continues its 2012-13 campaign when its heads to the University of Rhode Island on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs (0-1) head into Tuesday's road-opener having played the Rhode Island-foe twice in first four years as a Division I program, splitting the two meetings. Last season in Smithfield, Bryant topped URI, 75-62, to close out the month of November with a W. 

On Saturday, Bryant fell to Dartmouth in Smithfield in both program's season-opener. Senior Katie Whittington (Twinsburg, Ohio) led the Bulldogs with 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting, hitting three of her six 3-point attempts. Classmate Danielle Douglas (Silver Spring, Md.) put up eight of her 11 points in the second half, while junior Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) finished with 12 points and nine boards.

Last year in Smithfield, the Bryant University women's basketball team started hot and never looked back, as Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) and Whittington combined for 36 points in a 75-62 victory over the University of Rhode Island on Nov. 30.

Soper became the first Bryant player to record a double-double this season, finishing with 20 points and 10 boards to ignite the Bulldogs from off the bench.    Whittington, meanwhile, was on fire early on for the Bulldogs, scoring 11 of the team's first 12 points by means of three long balls and a layup to push the home team in front early.

Bryant finished the game setting new season highs in field goals made (27) and field-goal percentage (40.9), as the home team shot 27-for-66 from the floor over the course of the game.  

Bench players were pivotal again for the Black and Gold, combining for 38 of the team's 75 points (50.67 percent).  URI finished with 45 rebounds over Bryant's 38, while the Bulldogs were dominant off turnovers, committing a season-low 12 giveaways and scoring 32 points off the Rams' turnovers.  Bryant finished with 32 points in the paint over URI's 22.

The Rams enter Tuesday's action with an 0-1 overall record after dropping their season-opener to Northeast Conference-foe Central Connecticut St., 57-49, on Friday. In the contest, URI was led by freshman Brianna Thomas' 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. 

In addition to Thomas, the Rams return senior Lara Gaspar who missed the entire 2011-12 season with an injury. As a junior, Gaspar averaged 30.6 minutes, 11.1 points and a team-best 6.0 rebounds per game. On Friday, she put up 10 points, 8 boards and 4 assists in her return to the hardwood. URI will also rely on contributions from freshman Samantha Tabakman who registered 8 points and 9 rebounds in her collegiate debut. 

The Rams were  picked to finish 16th in the 2012-13 Atlantic 10 Conference race, according to the Atlantic 10 Preseason Coaches Poll.  Rhody finished the 2011-12 campaign with a 1-28 overall record and was 0-14 in the A-10.

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