Bulldogs go for two-straight Saturday

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LOOKS FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT WIN SAT. VS. COLUMBIA (1 PM)

GAME NOTES

ON TAP AT THE CHACE

The Bryant University women's basketball program continues its 2012-13 campaign when its hosts Columbia University in the first leg of double header Saturday in Smithfield. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m.
SERIES HISTORYThe Bulldogs and Lions have faced-off just once in Bryant's brief Division I history, with Columbia coming out victorious, 77-74, last December in New York. 

LAST SEASON IN NEW YORK

The Bryant University women's basketball team nearly completed a remarkable comeback, but Columbia University outscored the Bulldogs by a 43-38 margin in the second half, as the Lions earned a dramatic 77-74 victory over Bryant on Friday afternoon at Levien Gymnasium.

Trailing by seven points with 3:03 left in regulation, the Bulldogs tacked on six points in 36 seconds to trim what was once a 16-point lead to one, as strong post play and clutch shooting down low allowed the Bulldogs to move to within 69-68 with 2:27 left.

But the Lions were able to muster just enough to keep the visitors at bay, as Columbia picked up just its second win of the season in the first-ever matchup between both programs.

Juniors Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) and Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.)combined for 38 points, with Soper leading the team with 16 of her 20 points in the second half alone, but it was not enough to overcome 17 points from Columbia's Melissa Shafer, who did all of her damage in the second frame while leading all players with four three-pointers.
The Bulldogs finished the day shooting a season-high 42.6 percent from the field on a 26-of-61 clip, but the Black and Gold converted just 2-of-27 from long range for a season-low 11.8 percent conversion rate, while allowing the Lions to register an 8-of-19 clip from downtown.

Turnovers also proved costly for Bryant, as its 23 giveaways were nine more than Columbia's 14, allowing the Lions to string together a key run early in the second half to jump out to a big lead that proved to be insurmountable.  The home team was able to convert 30 points off of Bryant turnovers. Bryant proved to be strong in the post, earning 11 more boards than Columbia to finish with a 46-35 edge in rebounding and 40 points in the paint compared to just 18 for the Lions.

SCOUTING THE LIONS

The Lions open the 2012-13 season with a 1-5 overall record picking up their lone win against NEC-foe Fairleigh Dickinson. Most recently, Columbia fell to Army Wednesday evening, 61-51 at West Point.

Last season the Lions finished 3-25, going just 1-15 in Ivy League play, however the return of 13 letterwinners is certainly encouraging for the future. Highliting the returners is senior Tyler Simpson who currently leads her team with 9.2 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game. Freshman Bailey Ott is off to a solid rookie campaign averaging eight points and just over five boards per game, while junior Courtney Bradford is third on the team in scoring with 6.2 points per contest.
Predicted to finish eighth in the 2012-13 Ivy League Preseason Media Poll, the Lions will look to stay unbeaten against the Bulldogs Saturday afternoon in Smithfield.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will head to Iona for a tough matchup with the Gaels, Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

TICKET TO RIDE

Single-game and season ticket packages are still available for the 2012-13 men's and women's basketball seasons. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.bryantbulldogs.com/tickets or by calling the Bryant Athletics Ticket Office at 401-519-TIXX.

CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME?

Bryant University Athletics and the Northeast Conference have partnered with Pack Network to create NEC Front Row, the home for all NEC men's and women's basketball broadcasts in 2012-13. NEC Front Row brings viewers an industry-leading video streaming solution for more than 100 Bryant University home contests during the 2012-13 athletic seasons, including live, free-of-charge broadcasts of all 15 Bulldog home men's basketball games. Live event productions include multiple camera angles, an on-screen scoreboard and state-of-the-art graphics. Visitwww.necfrontrow.com for more information and a schedule of events.