Bulldogs look for first NEC win vs. Wagner

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS WAGNER, MONDAY NIGHT AT 5 P.M.

Watch: NECfrontrow.com
Live Stats: BryantBulldogs.com
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FULL GAME NOTES

ON TAP AT THE CHACE ATHLETIC CENTER

The Bryant University women's basketball team will continue its 2012-13 campaign on Monday when it welcomes NEC-foe Wagner College for a 5 p.m. showdown in Smithfield.  

SERIES HISTORY

Despite joining the Division I ranks just four seasons ago, the Bulldogs have had immense success against Wagner and sport an undefeated, 5-0 record in the all-time series. The Seahawks came close to knocking off the Bulldogs in the team's first matchup last year, losing by just four (71-67) to account for the closest game ever played between the schools and dropping the season finale, 65-53, last February.

LAST SEASON IN SMITHFIELD

Guided by Brittany Stahura's (Amsterdam, N.Y.) first career double-double and a strong performance in the paint, the Bryant University women's basketball team put the 2011-12 season in the books and went out on a high note, as the host Bulldogs took down Wagner College, 65-53, on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012.

Snapping a six-game losing streak in the process, the Bulldogs finished the historic season with a 14-15 overall record while going 7-11 in the Northeast Conference and finishing the year in ninth place in the league standings. The Seahawks end the year 2-27 overall with a 1-17 league mark.

It was Stahura who lit up the scoreboard on Monday night, as the New Yorker helped run an offense that struggled from the field early in the first half by means of her 10 points and game-high six assists while keeping Wagner at bay with four steals. Stahura went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line, setting career highs in free throws made in a single game, and hauled down a game-high 13 boards to account for her first collegiate double-double performance – fittingly enough – in her final match.

Guard Danielle Douglas (Silver Spring, Md.) torched the Seahawks for a game-high 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting and made her only 3-point attempt of the game. Douglas also went 4-for-5 from the stripe and chipped in five rebounds and matched Stahura's steal total with four. Rounding out the group, Naana Ankoma-Mensa (Brampton, Ont.) finished off an impressive sophomore campaign by securing her title as the team's leading scorer with a 14-point outing and 12 rebounds.

Wagner's Brittney Thorpe enjoyed a successful evening by means of 15 points and a 6-for-14 clip from the field, while Laura Amorosa went 2-for-3 from long range to account for 11 points. Senior Kelly Clark chipped in eight points and garnered a side-high eight rebounds and came up with two steals, as well.

Both squads did not have particularly memorable nights from the field, but after a slow start, both the Bulldogs and Seahawks managed to register shooting percentages in the 30s. Bryant finished 22-of-63 (.349) on the evening and went a paltry 2-for-11 (.182) from downtown but managed to hit 19-of-26 (.731) from the free throw line. Wagner went 18-of-51 (.353) on the game while having a slightly better touch from long range, as the Seahawks hit 6-of-16 (.375) from outside. Wagner went 11-for-18 (.611) from the stripe.

SCOUTING THE SEAHAWKS

Wagner enters Monday's action with a 2-13 overall record and 1-3 mark in the Northeast Conference with its most recent victory over LIU Brooklyn on Jan. 14.

The Seahawks are led by senior Marie-Laurence Archambault and sophomore Stephanie Blais who each average just over 10 points per contest. Senior Veronick Fournier leads the team in rebounding, averaging 5.3 per contest to go along with her 6.7 points, while freshman Jordyn Peck puts up 9.8 points a game.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will close out their five-game homestand on Saturday when they host LIU Brooklyn in the first game of Bryant basketball doubleheader. Tip is set for 1 p.m.