Bulldogs open NEC play with FDU Saturday

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The Bryant University women's basketball will open Northeast Conference play when they welcome Fairleigh Dickinson to Smithfield on Saturday, Jan. 4 for a 1 p.m. showdown with the Knights. The Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest riding a three-game win streak, the second longest streak currently in the NEC.

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday marks the 9th meeting in six seasons between the two schools, as both Bryant and FDU enter the game with four wins apeice.

Alternating wins since their first matchup back in 2008 (Bryant's first DI season), the Bulldogs picked up a big win in Teaneck, N.J., last year thanks to a 27-point outburst from Katie Whittington.

The win last February was apart of Bryant late-season run in which it won 8 of its final 13 games to clinch a spot in the NEC Tournament.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS

Fairleigh Dickinson enters Northeast Conference action with the hopes that the New Year can help salvage a tough non-league slate. Sporting a 1-10 overall mark and a six-game losing streak, the Knights are led by sophomore guard Kelsey Cruz's 13.5 points per game in just over 25 minutes per contest. Junior guard Amanda Andrades, the only FDU player who has started all 11 games, averages 8.8 ppg and a team-best 3.9 assists per game while senior Desiree Crawford averages a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per game to go along with 7.1 ppg.

Most recently, the Knights competed in the FIU Sun and Fun Classic in Miami, Fla., where they dropped a pair of games against FIU and Florida A&M.

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS

Saturday, Jan. 4 will mark the official start of the 2013-14 Northeast Conference women's basketball schedule with all 10 teams in action. After opening with FDU at home on Jan. 4, the Black and Gold will play six of their next eight on the road before spending the majority of February in Smithfield.

Last season, the Bulldogs win 8 of their final 13 games to clinch the eighth and final spot in the 2012-13 NEC Tournament.