Bulldogs host Bobcats Monday at 7 p.m.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BEGINS HOMESTAND IN SEARCH OF FIRST NEC WIN, MONDAY VS. QUINNIPIAC

Watch: NECfrontrow.com
Live Stats: BryantBulldogs.com
Follow along on Twitter: @BryantGameday

ON TAP AT THE CHACE ATHLETIC CENTER

The Bryant University women's basketball team will look to snap its five-game skid when it Quinnipiac on Monday, Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. This will mark the first of a five-game homestand for the Bulldogs.

SERIES HISTORY

In a series that dates all the way back to Bryant's first season in 1977-78, today's contest is the 37th meeting between the Bulldogs and Bobcats.  Bryant holds a slim 19-17 edge all-time, but since joining the Division I ranks, the Bobcats own a 5-2 record against the Bulldogs dating back to 2008-09 - including wins in the last four meetings.

LAST SEASON IN SMITHFIELD

The Bryant University women's basketball team fell at home to Quinnipiac University on Saturday, dropping an 84-47 decision to the visiting Bobcats in an important Northeast Conference battle at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs could not find their groove on a snowy afternoon, as the Bobcats capitalized on sharp shooting from the field while capitalizing on several Bryant miscues to cruise to the 37-point victory, handing the home team its worst defeat of the season.

Comparable to the wintery conditions outside, Bryant was ice-cold from the field, shooting a meager 27.1 percent on a 19-of-70 clip.  Those numbers, however, were not nearly as discouraging as the team's free throw shooting effort, as the Bulldogs went 5-of-14 from the line to post a season-low 35.7 percent free throw clip. 

On the other end, Quinnipiac's prolific offense – which entered the weekend averaging a conference-best 67.5 points per game – was firing on all cylinders, highlighted by four players finishing with double-digit points. 

The Bobcats knocked down 27-of-59 from the field for a 45.8 percent field goal clip while also posting strong numbers from the stripe, finishing the afternoon 24-for-27 in free throw shooting (88.9 percent).

For Bryant, Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) represented the lone double-digit point-getter while finishing the afternoon with 16 points and seven boards and nabbing a team-high four steals. Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) and Courtney Schissler (Branford, Conn.) each chipped in eight points, while the latter set a new career high with seven rebounds to lead the home team.

Quinnipiac, meanwhile, used a balanced attack led by Brittany McQuain's team-high 14-point contribution. Jasmine Martin added 13 points and four boards, while Felicia Barron and Kari Goodchild posted 10 points apiece. 

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS

Quinnipiac enters the weekend as the team to beat in the Northeast Conference, boasting an impressive 12-2 overall mark, unbeaten thus far in the NEC. The conference-foe has already notched key victories this season against the likes of UMass, Holy Cross and St. John's. Most recently,

The Bobcats are led by Preseason All-NEC selection senior Felicia Barron who leads her team in scoring with 15.5 points per contest and dishes 3.1 assists per game. Sophomore Jasmine Martin chips in with 13 ppg, while shooting nearly 43 percent from behind the arc and junior Brittany McQuian averages 10.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Quinnipiac can certainly put up points, averaging nearly 71 points per game this season, beating opponents by an average margin of 8.5 points while shooting over 40 percent from the field as a team (all 1st in NEC). The Bobcats rank near or at the top in almost every statistical category.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will continue their homestand when they close out their non-conference slate with Ivy League-foe, Yale on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.