#2 Bulldogs host #7 Mountaineers in NEC Tournament Quarterfinals Sunday at 1 p.m.

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FULL GAME NOTES

ON TAP AT THE CHACE ATHLETIC CENTER
The No. 2 seeded Bryant University women's basketball team will play host to No. 7 Mount St. Mary's, Sunday at 1 p.m., in the opening round of the Northeast Conference Tournament. This will mark the second-straight NEC Tournament Quarterfinal home game for the Bulldogs after earning the No. 4 seed last season.

The two teams enter the NEC Tournament on different trajectories. Bryant has won six of its last seven contests while the Mountaineers have won just once since Jan. 26.

THE SERIES
Sunday afternoon will mark the 12th overall and first postseason meeting between Bryant and Mount St. Mary's with the Mount holding a 7-4 all-time series lead over the Bulldogs. However, the Black and Gold have gotten the better of their Maryland counterpart this season with a pair of wins by the slimmest of margins.

On Feb. 9 in Smithfield, it took overtime to determine a victor as the Bulldogs almost let a double-digit lead slip away; but in the end rode a 23-point, 11-rebound performance from Breanna Rucker to the 74-72 win. Just five days later, the two teams met again, this time in Emmitsburg, Md., and it was Bryant who had to overcome a late deficit, securing the 55-53 victory thanks to some last-second heroics from Tiersa Winder.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
After opening NEC play winning five of its first seven games, Mount St. Mary's has had to endure one of the toughest stretches in recent memory. Posting a 1-10 record since a win over Saint Francis U. on Jan. 24, including a margin of defeat of just 6.6 points, the Mountaineers have been dealt eight single-digit losses including five by three points or less. But nonetheless, the Mount did just enough to secure a spot in the NEC Tournament, finishing the season at 8-21 overall, 6-12 in league play.

The trying season has not come without a few bright spots as NEC veterans Jacqueline Brewer and Jenn Carney have put together solid senior seasons. Brewer, one of the top shooters in the league, leads the team with nearly 14 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while Carney averages just over 11 ppg and a team-best 90 percent from the free throw line. Junior Sarafina Arthur-Williams leads the team on the glass with nearly 7 rpg to go along with 7.9 ppg, while freshman forward Jessica Harris (6.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.3 steals per game) has emerged as one of the top young players in the conference.

The Mount's struggles this season have come primarily on the offensive end as its 57.3 ppg are last in the NEC. But despite that, the Mountaineers are first in 3-point FG percentage (.350), second in free throw percentage (.736), and fifth in 3-point FG made per game (5.90). The Mountaineers also rank fourth in the league at 66 ppg allowed and held the Bulldogs to under 65 ppg in two meetings this season.

NEC REGULAR SEASON CHAMPS
With its 55-53 win over Central Connecticut on Monday, March 2, Bryant earned its first Northeast Conference Regular Season Championship in program history. A two-way tie atop the NEC standings with the Blue Devils resulted in a share of the regular season title for the two schools. This also marks the first League Championship for head coach Mary Burke, who is in her 24th season at the helm.

BULLDOGS IN THE PLAYOFFS
The 2014-15 season marks the third-straight appearance in the NEC Tournament for the Bulldogs who have qualified for the postseason in all three years of their Division I playoff eligibility since 2012-13. After earning the eighth seed (2012-13) and the fourth seed (2013-14), Bryant secured the number two overall seed in the tournament this season and the right to host at least one NEC Tournament game. The Bulldogs will battle #7 Mount St. Mary's on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center in the NEC Quarterfinals.

NEC ELITE
In just its third postseason eligible season as a member of the Northeast Conference, the Bryant University women's basketball team has certainly made its mark on the league as junior Breanna Rucker, Player of the Year, and freshman Ivory Bailey Rookie of the Year, combine for half of the league's major postseason awards.

Rucker, who put together one of the most complete seasons in Bryant's Division I era, became the first Bulldog to earn NEC Player of the Year and All-NEC First Team honors in program history. The junior forward ranked sixth in the league scoring at 16.0 points per game and first in rebounding at 11.4 boards per contest (10th in the country), while her program record 21 double-doubles this season are the fourth most in the country and tied for the sixth most in the NEC since 2000.

Not to be outdone, Bailey wasted little time establishing herself as one of the most dynamic players in the league during her first season donning the Black and Gold. Instantly emerging onto the scene, Bailey averaged 11.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.0 assist per game, while her unique mix of athleticism and dead-eye shooting made her a major matchup problem for opponents.

BAILEY BECOMES ALL-TIME APPEARANCES LEADER
Senior point guard Jenniqua Bailey appeared in her 122nd career game as a Bulldog on Feb. 28 vs. St. Francis Brooklyn, setting the all-time program record for games played in a career. Bailey, who became just the eighth player in Division I history to appear in 100 games, broke the program record for career appearances set by Dede Fogarty (121 - 2001-05).

BRYANT BREAKS DI SINGLE-SEASON WIN MARK
The Bulldogs earned their 20th regular season victory with their win at Wagner on Monday, breaking the Division I program record for wins in a season set just last year (17, 2013-14). This also marks the first 20-win season for the program since 2007-08. Bryant also set a new program record for NEC wins in a season (13). With just one regular season game remaining, the Black and Gold also have an opportunity to set the program record for total wins in a season (22, 2003-04, 1987-88).

BRING ON MONDAYS
With their 64-47 win at Wagner on Monday, the Bulldogs improved to a perfect 9-0 on Mondays this season. The Bulldogs are now 15-1 this year during the work week (Mon.-Fri.) and just 6-7 on weekends.

HOME SWEET HOME
With their win over Central Connecticut on March 2, the Bulldogs improved to 12-2 overall at home this season. The Black and Gold are also a perfect 8-1vs. Northeast Conference opponents this year at the Chace Athletic Center.

WINDEX
Always among the top rebounding teams in the Northeast Conference, Bryant once against sits at the top in almost every rebounding category in the league rankings. Outrebounding opponents by an average margin of 6.7 rpg (first in NEC), the Bulldogs have outrebounded the opposition in 22 of 29 contests this season.

STARTING FIVE
All five Bulldog starters (Jenniqua Bailey, Tiersa Winder, Ivory Bailey, Breanna Rucker, and Morgan Olander) are averaging at least 10 points per game enter Monday's game, making Bryant the lone team to accomplish that feat.

FIRST OF THE MONTH
With the Bulldogs' 55-53  win over Central Connecticut on March 2, Bryant has now recorded victories in each of its first games starting a new month this season. Previously, the Black and Gold had picked up victories over Maine to begin November, Holy Cross to open December, LIU Brooklyn to start January, and at Saint Francis U. on Feb. 2.

TICKET TO THE RIDE
Single-game and season ticket packages are still available for the 2014-15 men's and women's basketball seasons. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.bryantbulldogs.com/tickets or by calling the Bryant Athletics Ticket Office at 401-519-TIXX.

CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME?
Bryant University Athletics and the Northeast Conference have partnered with Pack Network to create NEC Front Row, the home for all NEC men's and women's basketball broadcasts in 2014-15. Visit www.NECFrontRow.com for more information and a schedule of events.