Bulldogs kick off 2015-16 season away vs. Seton Hall Friday at 11 a.m. and home vs. Cornell Sunday at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After finishing last season as Regular Season Co-Champions, the Bryant University women's basketball team returns for the 2015-16 season, with the opener on the road against BIG East opponent Seton Hall on Friday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m., followed by Cornell on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. in Smithfield.

The Bulldogs had a record-setting season last year, finishing at 22-9 overall and 14-4 in the Northeast Conference, both of which are Division I program record wins. Last season also marked the Black and Gold's third-straight NEC Tournament appearance under 25th year head coach Mary Burke.

The Bulldogs pulled in two first-place bids in the 2015-16 NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll, ranking them second behind Robert Morris, who tallied seven.

This year's squad is returning the reigning NEC Player of the Year Breanna Rucker (Cincinnati, Ohio) and the 2014-15 Rookie of the Year Ivory Bailey (Wyomissing, Pa.). Rucker finished with 22 double-doubles, setting a new Division I program record in a single season and earing the 6th spot in the country. The 5-11 swing player nabbed a career-high 28 points against Saint Francis U. (1/12/15), while also recording career-high free throws made (12) in the same game. Rucker is a force on both the offensive and defensive glass, pulling down 17 against LIU Brooklyn (1/26/15) and averaging 11.3 per game, which ranked her 14th in the nation.

Last season, as a freshman, Bailey averaged 11.4 points per game and ranked 19th in the conference with 5.1 rebounds per contest. The 5-7 guard scored a career-high 24 points against Maine (11/14/14) and career-best 13 rebounds against Wagner (1/19/15).

The Black and Gold are also returning two other starters, including senior Tiersa Winder (Baltimore, Md.) and junior Morgan Olander (Mansfield, Conn.). Winder, a 5-8 guard, was the team's leading scorer last season, averaging 14.7 points per game (10th in NEC) and recording a career-high 27 points against Sacred Heart (1/24/15). Olander returns as the Bulldogs' starting center after a standout sophomore season, where she pulled down an average of nine boards per game and recorded 36 blocks on the year. The 6-2 post player tallied seven double-doubles, placing her at 6th in the league, while also earning the 4th slot in rebounds per contest.

The Bulldog returners are joined by two incoming freshmen, Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) and Haley Connors (West Hartford, Conn.). Palmer is likely to start as the Bulldogs' floor general, while Connors may see some time off the bench as a shooting guard. Both 5-7 guards know how to score and will serve as vital additions in the Bryant offensive attack.

The squad opens the 2015-16 campaign against BIG East challenger Seton Hall, on the road. The meeting will mark the first time the two teams have met and the third time the Bulldogs have seen a BIG East opponent. Bryant is 1-1 against the BIG East, splitting games with Providence College in the last two seasons.

The Pirates graduated four of their starters from last season, but their highest scorer Tabatha Richardson-Smith remains in the lineup for Seton Hall. The forward averaged 17.8 points per game and 6.8 rebounds, helping the Pirates to the conference championship, where they were defeated by DePaul. Their 26-6 overall record and post season push was enough to earn them a bid in the NCAA tournament, where they faced Rutgers in the first round, falling to them, 79-66.

The Bulldogs then return to Smithfield to host Cornell in their home opener on Sunday. The Ivy League foe finished last season at 15-13 overall and 6-8 in the conference. In last year's game, the Big Red edged out the Bulldogs, 66-64, in Ithaca. Cornell returns four starters from last season, with the addition of two letter winners, ranking them fifth in the Ivy League Preseason Coaches' Poll.

The Bulldogs tip off against Seton Hall on Friday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. and battle Cornell at home on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. Fans can follow along with live stats at bryantbulldogs.com or watch the live broadcast at necfrontrow.com.