Bulldogs look to make it five-straight

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GOES FOR FIFTH-STRAIGHT WIN, FRIDAY AGAINST HOLY CROSS

Game Notes

ON TAP AT THE CHACE ATHLETIC CENTER

The Bryant University women's basketball program continues its 2012-13 campaign when its hosts the Holy Cross Crusaders, Friday morning at 11 a.m. at the Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, R.I.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be the fifth matchup between the two schools, as they have meet in each of the last four seasons Bryant joined the Division I ranks. The Crusaders currently leads the all-time series, 3-1, earning their most convincing victory over the Black and Gold, 82-62, last season in Worcester, Mass. 

LAST SEASON IN WORCESTER, MASS.

The Bryant University women's basketball team's two-game winning streak came to an end against Holy Cross, as the squad dropped an 82-62 decision at the Hart Recreation Center.

The Bulldogs could not overcome a season-low 25.4 percent field-goal clip from the field on just 18-of-71 shooting, while the Crusaders dropped 31-of-59 for a season-high 52.5 percent from the floor.

After falling behind by 15 in the first half, the home team kept their lead comfortably intact throughout most of the second frame, using a fast-paced and pass-happy offense to spread the ball all over the floor, helping the Crusaders earn 27 assists – 10 more than the previous season-high for a Bryant opponent – in their winning effort.

Bryant's scoring came mostly from two players, as Katie Whittington and Danielle Douglas combined for 27 of the team's 62 points, with the former edging the latter as the duo garnered 15 and 13 points, respectively.  

More impressively for Whittington was her perfect 10-of-10 clip from the free-throw line, marking the first time a player had made 10 or more free throws since former Bulldog great Kelsey O'Keefe did so on Feb. 23, 2009.

Sophomore Naana Ankoma-Mensa saw her three-game double-double streak come to an end, finishing the game with eight points and a team-leading seven boards.

Four Crusaders reached the double-digit mark in scoring, with Amy Lepley leading all players with 18 points while Alex Smith earned a game-high eight boards.

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS

The Crusaders enter Friday's actions posting an overall mark of 4-5, good for fifth place in the Patriot League. Most recently, Holy Cross fell to Northeast Conference-foe Quinnipiac, 61-49, on Dec. 8.

Led by junior's Alex Smith and Brisje Malone, Holy Cross had rattle off three-straight victories at the end of November and the beginning of December before dropping two straight contests against Northeastern on Dec. 5 and Quinnipiac on Dec. 8. The Pre-season All-Patriot Leaguer Smith leads the Crusaders with 14.8 points per game and 4.4 rebounds per game, while Malone ranks second in scoring, putting up 10.2 ppg.

Selected to finish third in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, the Crusaders look to continue their dominance over the Bulldogs when they head to Smithfield on Friday.

CONFERENCE PLAY ON THE HORIZON

Friday's game against Holy Cross will mark the second to last non-conference action for the Bulldogs before opening Northeast Conference play. Bryant will close 2012 with a trip to Army on Dec. 30 before beginning January with NEC action. The lone non-league game for the Bulldogs in 2013 will be against Yale on Jan. 16 in Smithfield.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs head to West Point, N.Y., on Sunday Dec. 30 for a 1 p.m. showdown with Army.

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 Bulldog home men's and women'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.