Bulldogs begin big weekend Saturday, host Mount at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - In the wake of one-point loss, 58-57, to St. Francis Brooklyn that dropped the Bryant University women's basketball into second place in the Northeast Conference, the Bulldogs look to remain in contention for the top, as they face Mount St. Mary's on Saturday at 1 p.m. 

THE SERIES
This contest will mark the 14th meeting between the Bulldogs and the Mount. Mount St. Mary's leads the series, 7-6, but the Bulldogs have found victories in the last four meetings, including last year's NEC Quarterfinal contest, where the Black and Gold dominated, winning, 76-54. 

SCOUTING THE MOUNT
The Mount won their most recent conference game, defeating Fairleigh Dickinson, 71-55, on Feb. 15. The victory helps the Mount place eighth in the NEC, posting a 5-9 league record. The Mount is a big threat to ball handlers, averaging 8.0 steals per game, which places them fourth in the conference. The squad coughs the ball up on average 19.1 times per game and has a turnover margin of -2.28, finishing seventh in the NEC. Similar to the Bulldogs, the Mount shoots a lower percentage, 27.9, than their competitors, 31.0 percent, from 3-point land. The Mount is led offensively by guard Alexis Carter, who averages 13.5 points per game. The guard is shooting 37.9 percent from the field, 28.0 percent from three and 71.2 from the line. 

CLINCHED
Posting an 11-3 NEC record, the Bulldogs have solidified a spot in the league's postseason, beginning on Sunday, March 6. The Bulldogs currently rank second in the conference, sitting just one game behind Sacred Heart, who they defeated, 61-59, on Jan. 30 and will see again on Monday, Feb. 22 in Smithfield. 

NO LONGER TOP DOG
After an unpredicted 58-57 loss to St. Francis Brooklyn on Feb. 15, the Bulldogs dropped to 11-3 in the NEC, losing the top spot in the league to Sacred Heart. In their first meeting with the Pioneers on Jan. 30, the Bulldogs took them down, 61-59, in Fairfield. If both teams win on Saturday, the Bulldogs will face the Pioneers on Monday, Feb. 22, with the chance to take back first place with the tiebreaker in Bryant's favor. 

AGAINST THE CURRENT
Not only did the one-point loss, 58-57, to St. Francis Brooklyn cost the Bulldogs first place in the conference, but it also compromised season-long trends the team had developed. The Black and Gold recorded 12 steals and only gave the ball up 13 times. When turning the ball over less than or equal to 15 times a game, the Bulldogs now post a 7-1 record. When grabbing 10+ steals, the Black and Gold are currently 4-1. Both losses in the given categories were recorded in the loss against St. Francis Brooklyn on Feb. 15. 

THE YOUNG GUN
After eight and nine assists performances in conference play, freshman Kierra Palmer dished out a career, team and Division I program-high 10 assists against Wagner on Feb. 13. Palmer's assists helped the team to a season-high 28 assists on 33 field goals.

DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
Three Bulldogs have earned double-doubles this season, led by senior Breanna Rucker, who notched her 15th double-double of the 2015-16 season against St. Francis Brooklyn off a season-high 26 points and 10 rebounds (Feb. 15). Her performance marks her Rucker's sixth-straight double-double game. Rucker's 15 double-doubles rank first in the NEC and 10th in the nation. Sophomore Ivory Bailey recorded her fourth double-double of the season and fifth of her career off 10 points and 10 rebounds against Saint Francis U. (Jan. 25), marking two-straight games with such a performance. Junior Alex Klein logged her first-career double-double off 14 points and a game-high 16 rebounds against Brown (Dec 6).