Bulldogs host LIU Saturday at 1pm in doubleheader

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LOOKS TO MAKE IT TWO-STRAIGHT, SATURDAY VS. BLACKBIRDS

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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 Saturday when it welcomes NEC-foe LIU Brooklyn for the first leg of a doubleheader at Chace Athletic Center. Tip is set for 1 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY

The Bulldogs and Blackbirds have met at least once in each of the last four seasons with LIU leading the all-time series, 3-2. The Blackbirds took the first two games in 2009 and 2010 before Bryant won back-to-back matchups in 2011. Most recently, LIU Brooklyn defeated the Bulldogs, 50-41, last February in Brooklyn.  

LAST SEASON IN BROOKLYN, N.Y.

The Bryant University women's basketball trimmed a double-digit deficit to five at the break, but LIU Brooklyn pulled away in the second half, handing the Bulldogs a 50-41 defeat on Monday evening at the Wellness Center. Bryant falls to 13-10 on the season with an even 6-6 mark in the Northeast Conference.

Just one Bulldog managed to reach double digits, as Katie Whittington (Twinsburg, Ohio), finished with 12 points while going 2-for-7 from long range, accounting for all of the team's damage from the outside.

Bryant finished the evening just 2-of-9 (.222) from three-point range and even worse from the field, as the Bulldogs set a new season low in shooting percentage by going 13-of-60 (.217) from the field. The visitors did not help themselves at the free throw line either, finishing the game just 13-of-21 (.619) from the stripe.

Preseason All-NEC Team member Ashley Palmer led all players with a 17-point outing to pace the Blackbirds (17-7, 6-6 NEC) to a crucial conference victory. Ebony Davis boasted 11 boards for the home side and was one of three different Blackbird players to finish with two blocks, as LIU Brooklyn finished the game with a 7-3 advantage in rejections.

Forward Brittany Stahura (Amsterdam, N.Y.) finished with a game-high 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs while chipping in three points. Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) produced an even eight-point, eight-rebound outing, while Danielle Douglas (Silver Spring, Md.) saw a six-game streak of scoring in double digits come to an end after chipping in eight points for the Bulldogs.

The Blackbirds played a physical game and controlled post play by virtue of a 50-40 advantage in rebounding and a 24-18 edge in points scored in the paint. Both teams finished with five steals, while Bryant dished a season-low five assists over the course of the game.

SCOUTING THE BLACKBIRDS

LIU Brooklyn enters the weekend with a 4-13 overall mark, tied with Bryant at 1-5 in the Northeast Conference standings. Also similar to the Bulldogs, the Blackbirds dropped eight-straight decisions dating back to December before earning their first NEC victory over Fairleigh Dickinson, 70-62, on Monday.

The Blackbirds are led by a pair of seniors, Krystal Wells and Tamika Guz, who each average 9.8 points per contest. Junior Cleandra Roberts leads the squad in rebounding, grabbing six boards a game while adding eight points per contest off the bench. Junior Kelly Robinson runs the point for LIU, averaging nearly five dimes per game to go along with her 4.4 points and 2.5 boards.

LIU and Bryant draw many similarities, including their ability to rebound the basketball as the Blackbirds rank third in rebounds per game in the NEC (42.9), first in rebounding margin (+6.5), and second in offensive rebounds per game (16.65).

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs will hit the road for a trio of games away from Smithfield, beginning with Sacred Heart on Monday. Game time is set for 7 p.m.