LIU hosts Bryant this Sunday and Monday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University women's basketball team remains in the Empire State when they meet with LIU at the Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn. The two-game series begins Sunday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. followed by a meeting on Monday, March 1 at 4 p.m. 

GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Long Island
Location: Steinberg Wellness Center (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Game Time: Game one – 7 p.m. | Game two – 4 p.m. 
Watch Live: NEC Front Row | Game one - Game two
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Game Notes: Game 18-19 – LIU
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #AllHeart | #AllHustle | #NECWBB

THE MATCHUP
The two teams met just once a year ago when the Bulldogs topped the Sharks, 57-53, in Smithfield. Gallagher led the Black and Gold with 11 points last season against the Sharks but it was Bjelko who dominated the boards with seven rebounds. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series against LIU, 16-4, and are 6-3 in Brooklyn.

SCOUTING THE SHARKS
LIU posts a 5-11 overall and conference record after sweeping Central Connecticut last week. The Sharks' offense is run through junior Brandy Thomas who averages 11.1 points per game and ranks second on the team with 6.2 rebounds a night. However, Thomas has yet to post double-figure scoring in the last four games. As a team, the Sharks lead the conference in second-chance opportunities as they average 15 offensive rebounds a game.

LAST TIME OUT: WAGNER
The Bulldogs split with Wagner in Staten Island, which marked the first time in history that Bryant fell to Wagner in the Spiro Sports Center. Bryant first fell, 72-64, for its third-straight loss. Sophomore Nicole Gallagher led the Bulldogs with a double-double of 13 points, 13 rebounds. Brooke Bjelko was the only other Bulldog to tally double-figures with 11 points.

Bryant took game two in a low-scoring 49-43 decision. The Bulldogs shot a season-best 20-of-30 from the foul line led by Bjelko who shot nine-for-ten from the stripe. Gallagher led again with her second-straight 13-point performance, but it was Bjelko who posted the double-double of 11 points, 12 rebounds.

NIKKI G
After missing the last five games for the Bulldogs, Nicole Gallagher returned to the court for the NEC series after spending almost four weeks in quarantine. In her first game out, Gallagher didn't skip a beat as she tallied a career-best 13 rebounds which were matched with 13 points for her third double-double of the season. The sophomore then posted her second-straight 13-point performance at Wagner for game two.

SENIOR SZN
Brooke Bjelko posts seven double-double efforts so far this season. She has been key in Bryant's success this season with three 20+ point performances including a career-high 30 points against Saint Francis. The senior is the first Bulldogs since Jenniqua Bailey '15 in 2014 to accomplish the 30-point feat. Bjelko was also awarded the first three NEC Player of the Week nods, marking the first Bulldog to earn three-straight in the D1 era. Currently, Bjelko has posted double-figure scoring in eight of the last nine games.

MAY THE ODDS BE IN YOUR FAVOR
The Bulldogs are 4-0 when they score 70+ points and are 5-0 when they lead at halftime. Bryant also proves to have its best chance at winning when shooting between 40-49% from the field, as they are 5-3 when they achieve the FG percentage compared to the 2-7 mark when shooting under 40%. Lastly, dominating the boards will continue to lead Bryant to success as all seven wins came when the Bulldogs outrebounded their opponent. The Black and Gold dropped all six games where they were outrebounded and fell to Sacred Heart when both teams pulled down 40 rebounds each.