Bulldogs battle Terriers in NEC opener in Brooklyn, Thursday at 1 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team opens Northeast Conference play against St. Francis Brooklyn on Thursday at 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES

THE SERIES
This contest marks the 14th meeting between the Bulldogs and Terriers with the series in Bryant's favor, 10-3.

SCOUTING THE TERRIERS
The Terriers enter conference play on a two-game losing streak, falling most recently to Iona and Rider.  Prior to the two losses, St. Francis Brooklyn found its second win of the season against Saint Peter's, while its first win came in November against Monmouth. The Terriers average 12.3 less than their opponents, giving up 70.6 points per game. The team also averages 1.3 less rebounds, while Bryant leads the NEC with a 7.5 more rebounds per game than its opposition. Like the Bulldogs, the Terriers cough up the ball on average about 20 times per game.

The Terriers are led offensively Olivia Levey, who averages 12.6 points per game off 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 71.4 percent mark from the line. Maria Palarino is the only other Terrier to average double-digit points through non-conference play, putting up 10.5 per game off team-highs 56.3 percent shooting from the floor and 50 percent from three, while averaging 77.8 percent from the charity stripe.

FIRST DOUBLE-DIGIT WIN
For the first time this season, the Bulldogs won by double-digit points, beating UMass Lowell, 73-62. Bryant's scoring efforts were headed by Alex Klein, Haley Connors and Morgan Olander.

70+ POINTS
The Bulldogs are 3-0 when scoring 70+ points this season and 0-3 when scoring 59 or less points.

OFF THE BENCH
Connors was a major contributor for the Bulldogs off the bench, scoring the second-most points with 13. The sophomore guard went 4-for-10 from the floor and knocked down three from behind the arc in 27 minutes of play.

OPENING NEC PLAY
The Bulldogs have gone 9-7 in the first two NEC games of the season, including last year's 2-0 start that resulted in the Black and Gold's best-ever conference start at 10-0.

O'CANADA
Klein has tallied her fourth 20+ point game against UMass Lowell, putting up a game-high 26 points, which earned her NEC Player of the Week. The senior forward also scored 26 points in the Bulldogs' home opener against Holy Cross. The other 20+ point games include Vermont and Pitt. Klein averages a team-high 17.0 points per game.