Bryant battles FDU on Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team battles for a playoff spot and a chance to host its first quarterfinal game since 2017 when they host Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. 

Before tip-off, the Bulldogs will honor two esteemed faculty members as honorary coaches of the game in professor of sociology, Judy McDonnell, and professor of Finance, Mara Derderian. 

THE PARTICULARS
Opponent: Fairleigh Dickinson
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Game Time: 1 p.m. 
Tickets: Single Game
Watch Live: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game Notes: Game 27 – Fairleigh Dickinson
Social Media:  Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #AllHeart | #AllHustle | #NECWBB

THE MATCHUP
The Bulldogs host Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday, Feb. 29 at 1 p.m. as the two teams battle to host a playoff spot. Bryant topped the Knights earlier this season in Hackensack, 57-45, thanks to a 27-14 fourth quarter to help close out the game for the Black and Gold. The Bulldogs hold an 8-2 record over the Knights in Smithfield.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Fairleigh Dickinson most recently held Robert Morris to just 48 points but ended up falling, 48-35, at the final buzzer. The Knights stayed with the Colonials for the entire game holding Robert Morris to just eight points that came solely from the free-throw line, but a dominating 19-5 third quarter was the x-factor that gave RMU the win. Freshman Maria Roters and Senior Lauren Francillon led the team by posting a combined 22 points.

The Knights rank second in the conference with a 39.2 field-goal percentage defense and a 61.4 scoring defense. FDU also ranks second in three-point shooting averaging 6.7 a game.

LAST TIME OUT: SACRED HEART
Bryant was unable to hold on to its 10-point second-half lead as they fell to Sacred Heart, 52-48. The Pioneers controlled the fourth quarter by holding the Bulldogs to just five points in the fourth frame, outscoring the Black and Gold, 19-5. Junior Brooke Bjelko (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) led the Black and Gold with 16 points and 11 rebounds followed by freshman Nicole Gallagher (Foxboro, Mass.) with 15. Senior Masey Zegarowski (Hamilton, Mass.) added 11 points and six assists.

BEGINNERS LUCK
Gallagher posted six consecutive double-figure scoring performances in her NEC debut. Gallagher tied her career-best against the NEC with 15 points at Sacred Heart. The rookie also leads the team by a wide margin in made three-pointers against the NEC with 29 through the conference schedule and 46 on the season. Gallagher also ranks fifth in the conference averaging 1.77 three's a night.

HOLLA!
Sydney Holloway (Morgantown, W.Va.) has led the Bulldogs in the last four of five games averaging 16.8 points through that span. Holloway first emerged when she notched her first 20-point game of the season against St. Francis Brooklyn with 22 points and 14 rebounds. She followed up with 19 points at CCSU, 22 against Merrimack, and another 19-point performance at St. Francis Brooklyn. Within those five games, Holloway posted two double-doubles as both of them came against the Terriers.

LUCKY YEAR NUMBER THREE
Bjelko posted back-to-back 16-point performances in a pair of NEC matchups at both St. Francis Brooklyn and Sacred Heart. Bjelko also pulled down 11 rebounds against the Pioneers for her second double-double of the season. She earned NEC Prime Performer for her efforts.

DOMINATING THE GLASS
In five of its last six games, Bryant has dominated its opponent on the glass by outrebounding them by double-digits. In the first meeting with Central Connecticut, Bryant outrebounded the Blue Devils by 15, 45-30. Against St. Francis Brooklyn, the Bulldogs outrebounded the Terriers by 17, 40-23. The Black and Gold followed it up by then outrebounding CCSU again by double-digits, 46-26. Bryant continued the four-game streak when they outrebounded Merrimack, 50-34, as the game marked a season-high in rebounds for the Black and Gold. Most recently, the Bulldogs outrebounded Sacred Heart, 40-27, as they rank first in the conference with a 4.2 rebounding margin.