Bulldogs open NJ trip at Monmouth Sat. at 3

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HEADS TO MONMOUTH SATURDAY AT 3 P.M.

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

FULL GAME NOTES

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The Bryant University women's basketball team will head to New Jersey over the weekend for the first of two games in the Garden State beginning with Monmouth on Saturday. Tip is set for 3 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY

This will be just the seventh meeting between Monmouth and Bryant with the two foes splitting the first six contests, 3-3. Last January in Smithfield, the Bulldogs squeaked out a 55-49 victory over the Hawks. The two squads have been fairly even since Bryant joined the Division I ranks in 2008, providing some great matches over the past four seasons.

LAST SEASON IN SMITHFIELD

The Bryant University women's basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak in impressive fashion Saturday afternoon, edging visiting Monmouth, 55-49, in Northeast Conference action at the Chace Athletic Center.

Despite shooting just 28.8 percent from the field (17-of-59), the Bulldogs (12-8, 5-4 NEC) held an opponent below 50 points for just the fourth time this season on an outstanding defensive effort while snapping the Hawks' (11-9, 6-5 NEC) eight-game winning streak in the process.

Only two Bulldogs recorded double-digit scoring, as Naana Ankoma-Mensa(Brampton, Ont.) led all players with 14 points while Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) finished the day with 11 points and seven steals – one shy of her personal best in the takeaway department.

Despite the low offensive totals, Bryant was dominant in the paint indicative of its 53-39 advantage in rebounding. Brittany Stahura managed to haul in a career-high 16 boards – two ahead of Meredith Soper's (Winthrop, Mass.) 14 rebounds.

Both teams were cold from the field, with Bryant converting just 1-of-13 (7.7 percent) from long range. The Black and Gold made up for it from the free-throw line by knocking down 20-of-27 from the stripe (.741) while Monmouth finished the day 11-of-15 in free throws (.733). The Hawks registered an identical clip from the field (17-of-59) as the Bulldogs, while going 4-of-19 from beyond the arc (.211).

Saturday marked the first time in the 2011-12 season that the Bulldogs won despite shooting less than 30 percent from the field. Before the game, Bryant was 0-4 when registering a field goal percentage in the 20s.

Just one visitor eclipsed the 10-point mark, as Preseason All-NEC Team member Alysha Womack dropped 11 points for the Hawks while shooting 3-of-20 from the field.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS

Monmouth enters Saturday's action sporting an 8-11 overall mark, 5-2 through eight games in Northeast Conference Play. Most recently, the Hawks defeated Garden State-foe Fairleigh Dickinson, 61-53, on Monday.

Senior Alysha Womack leads the Hawks with 14.5 points per game, while junior Chevannah Paalvast ranks second on the team with 11.8 ppg, adding 5.3 rebounds per game. Senior Abigail Martin leads Monmouth is rebounding with 5.8 boards per contest and senior Gabby Singer handles the point guard duties, dishing out 2.9 assists per game.

The Hawks average 57.5 points per contest while allowing 63.3 ppg, both ranking 7th in the NEC. Monmouth shoots the deep ball at a .308 percent clip (5th in NEC) and averages 3.47 blocks per contest (4th in NEC). The Hawks enter Saturday's contest with a 4-3 record on their home court as they look to keep their winning record at home alive.