2018-19 season kicks off at UMass Lowell

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team takes the court for the first time this season as they take the short trip to UMass Lowell to take on the River Hawks for an ESPN+ game set for 7 p.m.

THE PARTICULARS:
Opponent: UMass Lowell 
Location: Tsongas Center
Game Time: Tuesday, Nov. 6 – 7 p.m.
Watch Live: ESPN+
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #AllHeart #AllHustle | #NECWBB

SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS:
Last season, UMass Lowell finished the season 4-26 with a 1-15 record in the America East. They were topped by UMBC in the first round of the AE Tournament, 73-65. Brianna Rudolph is the returning leading scorer for the River Hawks scoring a total of 269 points last season averaging 9.6 points a game. The River Hawks are led by Head Coach Tom Garrick in his first season. Garrick comes to the River Hawks after spending three season as an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at Boston College.

SERIES HISTORY VS. UMASS LOWELL
The regular season tips off Tuesday, as the Bryant University Bulldogs travel to Lowell, Mass. to square off with the UMass Lowell River Hawks. This marks the fifth game between the two schools in the Division I era of the two programs, with the teams last meeting in 2016. Bryant leads the all-time series, 3-1. Both teams have met 22 times with Bryant leading the series 13-9.

MEET THE NEWCOMERS
The Bryant University women's basketball team welcomes four new faces who will all contribute at the guard position. Madison Trpcic (Hamilton, Ont.) and Trinity Bravo (Bridgeport, Conn.) enter as true freshman, while Meagan Bianchi (Brooklyn, Conn.) and Taty LaFrance Boyce (Norwich, Conn.) have two years of playing experience under their belt as they transfer into Bryant from junior college, UConn Avery Point.

SEEING DOUBLE
Junior wing Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W. Va.) was named First Team All-NEC last season after averaging 17.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 0.6 assists per game. Holloway was the only conference player to average a double-double which ranked her 19th nationally for her double-double performances. The Morgantown native also earned national ranks for her 248 free throw attempts last season, being placed in the eight spot.   

DROPPING DIMES
Kierra Palmer (Aberdeen, Md.) led the NEC in assists last season for the second year in a row, totaling 132 on the season (5.3/game). Palmer had one double-digit assist performance on Feb. 26 against Saint Francis U. She also scored 13 points in the contest tallying her second double-double of her career.

PICKING POCKETS
Naomi Ashley (Hamilton, Ont.) led the NEC in steals per game last season swiping almost three a game. Compiling 83 steals for the season, Ashley is ranked third all-time at Bryant for steals in a season and second all-time for steals in a game as she stole a career high of nine.  

BOARDING SCHOOL
Bryant led the Northeast Conference in rebound margin and was second in rebounds last season, out-rebounding its opponents by 2.7 rebounds a game. The Bulldogs held opponents to 1,127 rebounds over the course of the season and outrebounded opponents in 20 of the 29 games.

FREE-BEES
Last season the Bulldogs led the NEC in free throw attempts taking 627 for the year. Holloway attempted 40% of the teams free throws ranking top 10 in the country for free throw attempts taking 248

TICKET TO RIDE
Season ticket packages are available for the 2018-19 Bryant University men's and women's basketball seasons. Fans can purchase tickets online at bryantbulldogs.com/tickets or by calling the Bryant Athletics Ticket Office at 401-319-TIXX.

UP NEXT: BROWN 
The Bulldogs host in-state rival Brown on Thursday November 8 for their home opener at 7 p.m. This will be the first time that the two teams will meet this season as they are set to compete against eachother in December at URI for the Rhode Island Tip-Off Tournament.