Bryant ends 11-day layoff with James Madison on Thursday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University women's basketball resumes play after an 11-day layoff when the team travels to Harrisonburg, Virginia, to tip-off with the James Madison University Dukes. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. and will be played at JMU's Convocation Center.

THE PARTICULARS
Opponent: James Madison University
Game Time: Thursday, Dec. 21 – 1 p.m.
Watch Live: CAA.tv
Live Stats:  StatBroadcast
Tickets: Purchase
Game Notes: James Madison | Bryant

SCOUTING THE DUKES
James Madison enters Thursday's game with a 3-7 overall record. The Dukes were last in action on Sunday, when they fell to Dayton on the road, 82-54. JMU has dropped its last two games.

Kamiah Smalls is the leading scorer and rebounder for the Dukes, averaging 16.5 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. She was the JMU leader in scoring at Dayton, dropping 22 points on the Flyers.

Kelly Koshuta has also been a spark for the Dukes' offense, averaging 13.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. She has played in all 10 games for James Madison, making four starts.

The Dukes are coached by Sean O'Regan, who enters his second season at the helm of the program. O'Regan took James Madison to the third round of the WNIT last season before falling to Villanova to end the season.

SERIES HISTORY vs. JAMES MADISON
Thursday marks the first-ever matchup between the two schools.

NOTHING CAN STOP ME, I'M HOLLOWAY UP
After being named to the NEC All-Rookie team last season, sophomore Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W. Va.) started up right where she left off at Brown, where she led Bryant with 19 points and nine rebounds. Holloway has earned double-doubles on four occasions this year, last versus Hartford in a 15-point, 10-rebound performance against the Hawks. As a freshman, Holloway had two double-doubles in 32 games. She has four in just 10 outings as a sophomore.

BUDDING STAR
After a breakout season in 2016-17, Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ont.) has been a force for the Bryant Bulldogs through the early stages of the season. Ashley was a rebound shy of a double-double against Boston College, going for 12 points and nine rebounds. In the team's second game, Ashley scored eight points and pulled down six boards off the glass, also coming away with three steals. The highlight of Ashley's season came at Holy Cross when the red-shirt junior had 9 points, 12 rebounds and 9 steals against the Crusaders. Ashley has posted averages of 10.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 steals as a redshirt junior.

DROPPING DIMES
Junior Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) led the NEC in assists last season, totaling 155 on the season (4.8/game). In 2017-18, Palmer had a season-best nine assists when the University of New Hampshire Wildcats visited the Chace Athletic Center on Nov. 21. She currently fourth in the NEC with 3.6 per game.

DOUBLE TROUBLE
Sydney Holloway and Naomi Ashley have been a dynamic duo over Bryant's first 10 games this season. Either Holloway or Ashley has been the leading scorer or rebounder in nine of the team's 10 games.

SCANNING THE BOARDS
Freshman Hannah Scanlan (Rumson, N.J.) has been a key part of the team for the Bulldogs this season. The Rumson, New Jersey, native has posted two double-scoring games and has two double rebound performances. Scanlan put up 13 points vs. Boston University in the Bulldogs' home opener, and in the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament Championship, she pulled down 11 rebounds versus Brown.

WOMAN OF STEAL
In a two-point overtime defeat at Holy Cross, Naomi Ashley set a Bryant Division I program record for steals in a game with nine. She bested the previous best of eight set by Danielle Douglas in the 2010-2011 season. The program record belongs to Beth Connealy (now Wandyes), who had 10 in a game versus Spring eld in 1995. Ashley had another big theft game vs. Rhode Island, coming away with six steals vs. the Rams in the first round of the Ocean State Tip-Off Tournament.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Bryant is scheduled to play six schools that made national postseason appearances last season. Robert Morris received a bid into the NCAA Tournament, while Sacred Heart, New Hampshire, and James Madison all participated in the WNIT. Saint Francis U and Brown were both selected to participate in the WBI.

EVERSON NAMED CAPTAIN
Bryant senior Kathleen Everson (Farmingville, N.Y.) was named a captain ahead of the 2017-18 season by head coach Mary Burke. Everson, a forward from Farmingville, New York, has averaged 3.5 points per game this season, setting new career highs in points on two occasions. Versus Brown in the team's second game of the season, Everson scored 10 points against the Bears.

BRYANT ADDS TWO
Bryant University women's basketball added two future Bulldogs during the early signing period, receiving National Letters of Intent from Trinity Bravo (Bridgeport, Conn.) and Alexandra Hart (Saco, Maine).