Posted: Mar 03, 2021
FDU visits Smithfield for season finale
FDU
(16-7,12-6 NEC)
64
Bryant
(7-14,5-12 NEC)
58
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FDU (16-7,12-6 NEC) | 11 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 64 |
|
Bryant (7-14,5-12 NEC) | 10 | 13 | 15 | 20 | 58 |
FDU
(15-7,11-6 NEC)
53
Bryant
(7-13,5-11 NEC)
47
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
FDU (15-7,11-6 NEC) | 13 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 53 |
|
Bryant (7-13,5-11 NEC) | 6 | 16 | 12 | 13 | 47 |
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team wraps up the 2020-21 season in Smithfield when they host Fairleigh Dickinson on March 4th and 5th. The first game is set to tipoff at 7 p.m. followed by a 4 p.m. tip on Friday. Before Friday's game, Bryant will honor its seniors, Brooke Bjelko and Kandis Taylor.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Fairleigh Dickinson
Date: Game one - Thursday, March 4 | Game two - Friday, March 5
Game Time: Game one - 7 p.m. | Game two - 4 p.m.
Live Stats: Sidearm Stats
Watch Live: NEC Front Row - Game one | Game two
Game Notes: Game 20/21 - Fairleigh Dickinson
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | #AllHeart | #AllHustle | #NECWBB
THE MATCHUP
Bryant swept the Knights during the regular season last year but fell, 57-43, in the NEC Quarterfinals. Nicole Gallagher posted double-figures in all but one game against FDU last season and set her career-best in free throws made/attempted with a perfect eight-for-eight mark on Feb. 29, 2020.
The Bulldogs hold the all-time series record, 16-7, and 9-2 in Smithfield.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Fairleigh Dickinson enters the series after winning its last five outings against Sacred Heart, Wagner, and St. Francis Brooklyn as they post a 10-6 mark in NEC play. FDU is currently fighting to clinch a spot in the NEC postseason tournament sitting in fourth. Senior Madison Stanley leads the Knight offense averaging 14.3 points per game posting double-figure scoring in all but three games this season. She also leads the conference in FG percentage with a 50% mark. As a team, the Knights take care of the ball as they rank second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (0.83) and turnovers per game (15.2).
Fairleigh Dickinson enters the series after winning its last five outings against Sacred Heart, Wagner, and St. Francis Brooklyn as they post a 10-6 mark in NEC play. FDU is currently fighting to clinch a spot in the NEC postseason tournament sitting in fourth. Senior Madison Stanley leads the Knight offense averaging 14.3 points per game posting double-figure scoring in all but three games this season. She also leads the conference in FG percentage with a 50% mark. As a team, the Knights take care of the ball as they rank second in the conference in assist/turnover ratio (0.83) and turnovers per game (15.2).
LAST TIME OUT: LIU
The Sharks swept the Bulldogs in their last NEC road series of the season. Bryant first fell, 58-53, in overtime for Bryant's first OT loss of the season. Bjelko led the Bryant offense with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Gallagher also notched a double-double in game one with 10 points, 10 rebounds.
LIU dominated in game two, topping the Bulldogs, 83-42. The Sharks held the Bulldogs to just 14 made FGs (14-41) and two-of-nine from behind the arc. LIU shot 33-of-74 from the field including 13 three-pointers. The Sharks also limited their turnovers, throwing away just 10 compared to 29 from Bryant. Bjelko (10) and Gallagher (11) were both three rebounds away from another double-double.
SENIOR SZN
Brooke Bjelko posts eight double-double efforts so far this season and has been Bryant's go-to offensive threat. The senior leads the conference in points per game (15.5), rebounds (173), and rebounds per game (9.1). Bjelko enters the FDU series after dropping a combined 31 points in a two-game series at LIU. Of the 19 games this season, Bjelko notched double-figure scoring in 16.
NIKKI G
After missing five-straight games due to quarantine, Nicole Gallagher didn't let that affect her. The sophomore posted four-straight double-digit scoring performances, including two double-doubles. Her first game back was the Wagner series where she had back-to-back 13-point games highlighted by an added 13 rebounds in game one. Most recently at LIU, Gallagher was one of Bryant's primary scorers with a double-double of 10 points, 12 rebounds, followed by 11 points and seven rebounds in game two.
I WANT KANDY
Kandis Taylor has had a breakout season this year highlighted by an OT game-winner against St. Francis Brooklyn which earned her a spot on ESPN's SportsCenter Top-10 plays at number 9. Taylor also dished out a career-best 11 assists and filled the rest of the stat sheet with six rebounds, five points, and four steals against Merrimack.