Thursday, November 05, 2009 

BULLDOGS TABBED 10TH IN NEC PRESEASON POLL

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team was tabbed to finish 10th in the Northeast Conference (NEC) for the 2009-10 season as voted on by the league's head coaches. The announcement was made Thursday morning during a media teleconference, which served as a prelude to the leagues 24th season of women's hoops.

Sacred Heart, earning nine first-place votes, stands as the preseason favorite to repeat as the NEC women's basketball champions. The Pioneers will shoot for their third title in five years and have currently won 21 consecutive games against conference opponents. Saint Francis (Pa.), which fell to Sacred Heart in last season's championship game, earned two first-place votes to finish second in the poll. The Red Flash sits one spot ahead of Central Connecticut in third.

Robert Morris, last year's preseason favorite, claimed the lone remaining first-place vote and took the fourth place spot. Quinnipiac finished in fifth place followed by two New Jersey teams, Fairleigh Dickinson (sixth) and Monmouth (seventh). Mount St. Mary's claimed the eighth spot, one in front of Long Island University. Bryant, Wagner and St. Francis (N.Y.) round out the preseason poll, respectively.

The Bulldogs, led by 19th year Head Coach Mary Burke, went 11-18 last year in their inaugural Division 1 season. In 2008-09, Bryant posted 6 wins against Northeast Conference opponents. This season the Bulldogs will play a full NEC schedule which includes 15 home games.

Bryant is led by senior captain and forward Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.). Last season was full of milestones for O'Keefe and the Bulldogs as she surpassed the 1,000-point mark with a layup just 43 seconds into Dec. 1's 53-50 win over St. Francis (N.Y.). She currently sits in fifth place all time with 1,391 points. The senior is also in the top five of three other career statistical categories. She is second all-time in made field goals (508), fourth all-time in rebound (670) and fifth all-time in three-point field goals made (119).

Looking to lead the way with O'Keefe will be the three other returning starters, Kristin Mraz (Johnstown, N.Y.), Courtney Schermerhorn (Lowell, Mass.) and Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.). The Bulldogs have six seniors on their roster.

Head Coach Mary Burke said her squad is, "Accustomed to success here at Bryant and will continue to improve as they take on the new challenge of being part of the NEC."

The Bulldogs will not be eligible to participate in the NEC's postseason tournament until the school completes its Division I transition in 2012-13. However, the Bulldogs will play a full conference schedule this season and will be included in the NEC standings and weekly honors.

The women host an exhibition contest against Assumption on Saturday, Nov. 7. The game will take place in the Chace Athletic Center on the Bryant campus. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. The Bulldogs open their regular season campaign on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Dartmouth College.