January 27, 2010

Game Notes / Live Stats / Video

BULLDOGS HOST FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON ON THURSDAY AT 5 PM 

GAME TO BE BROADCAST LIVE AT BRYANTBULLDOGS.TV 

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After falling to the defending Northeast Conference champion Sacred Heart Pioneers on Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs return to action Thursday at 5 p.m. against Fairleigh Dickinson in the Chace Athletic Center. Bryant, who has been a surprise in the NEC thus far, is currently tied for fourth place in the conference with an even 4-4 mark against conference foe. Prior to the loss at Sacred Heart, the Bulldogs were coming off a convincing 25-point victory over Quinnipiac. With the win, the Black and Gold completed the season sweep of the Bobcats. This will be the second time Bryant and FDU have met this season and the fourth time overall. FDU currently leads the series 2-1 and most recently beat Bryant by a margin of 20 points earlier this season.

Not unlike any of the past three seasons, the Bulldogs are led by their 6-foot-1 forward, Kelsey O'Keefe (Warren, Mass.). The senior is averaging a team-high 14.7 points per game and has scored 1,626 points in her career, good enough for third place all-time. However, new and young faces are beginning to shine through for Bryant as it continues its march into Division I. Freshman Meredith Soper (Winthrop, Mass.) has started the last seven games for the Bulldogs and is coming off a career-high 17-point night at Quinnipiac a week ago. Classmate Danielle Douglas (Silver Springs, Md.) has now started eight consecutive games and is recently coming off a 12-point, eight assist and eight steal night at home against Yale. She posted personal bests in both assists and steals. The eight single-game steals is good enough for second all-time in the Bulldog record book.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
After losing five straight Northeast Conference games, Fairleigh Dickinson was able to bounce back on Saturday, defeating Saint Francis (PA) by three for its second conference victory. Early in January the Knights defeated Bryant, 76-56, to earn their first NEC victory of the season. Despite having the league's leading scorer in Mariyah Laury, the Knights are currently in 11th place in the NEC with their 2-6 conference mark and 6-13 overall record. Laury averages a league-best 16.9 points per game. She has also scored a league-leading 322 points. The sophomore guard is shooting 38.2 percent from the floor and a team-best 79.7 percent from the free throw line. Junior guard Alyssa Mayrose is also close to the top of the conference scoring list in 12th place. Mayrose averages 12.9 ppg and averages a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game. Redshirt sophomore Jasmyra Saunders is the defensive threat for the Knights. Saunders, who has played in only 15 of FDU's 19 games, is leading the league in steals. Saunders averages 2.87 steals per game. Rebounding is where the Knights really struggle. FDU is last in rebounding averaging only 32.9 rpg. The Knights also give up 39.7 rpg, the third most in the conference.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
With her 33 and 34 point performances against Monmouth and Quinnipiac, respectively, Kelsey O'Keefe has the two highest single-game point totals in the Northeast Conference this season. She is currently ranked eighth in the NEC, averaging 14.7 ppg.

The Bulldogs are shooting well from long-range this season and are currently in fifth place in the NEC in 3-point shooting percentage, averaging 33.5 percent from beyond the arc. Bryant is third in 3-point shots made with 109 on the season and tied for fifth in the conference in assists, averaging 12.8 per game. Coming into today's contest, sophomore Lekia Cowen (Hopedale, Mass.) is ranked fourth in the NEC, shooting 42.9 percent from long range. Senior captain Kristin Mraz (Johnstown, N.Y.) is ranked seventh in the NEC with her 68 assists while O'Keefe is ranked fourth in free throw shooting percentage, averaging 82.6 percent from the line.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Bryant Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents in 13 of 18 games so far this season, including six of the seven victories. Bryant is currently ranked second in the NEC in rebounding, averaging 41.1 per game. The Bulldogs are third in the NEC in rebounding margin, averaging 3.3 boards better than its opponents. In the NEC, Siamone Bennett (Newburgh, N.Y.) is ranked 18th in rebounds per game, averaging 6.4 boards per game. Bennett is also second in the conference in offensive rebounds, pulling down and average of 3.5 offensive rebounds per game. She also remains in first place in the conference with 28 blocked shots.

BRYANT TO ANNOUNCE ALL-DECADE TEAM
The past decade of Bryant University women's basketball saw many memorable individual and team highlights. During the intermission of Bryant's January 30 game with Monmouth University, head coach Mary Burke will unveil and introduce the 11-member All-Decade Team, many of whom will be present for the halftime ceremony.

Over the past decade, the Bulldogs averaged 16 wins per season and qualified for seven postseason tournaments, including three NCAA tournament appearances. Seven players have reached the 1,000-point plateau since the 1999-2000 season and many are expected to be named to the All-Decade Team on the Jan. 30.

The Bulldogs opened the decade with an 11-win season, earning a spot in the Northeast-10 Conference tournament. The team also entered the final year of the decade with an 11-win season, the program's first competing at the Division I level.

The Bryant vs. Monmouth game will be streamed live on www.bryantbulldogs.tv starting at 1 p.m.

BULLDOGS ON THE AIR
Fans can catch all of the action this year by logging onto www.bryantbulldogs.tv to watch all Bryant home games live online, courtesy of Pack Network. Also this year, track each game live online for free with LIVE STATS by visiting www.bryantbulldogs.com and clicking the Live Stats link.

UP NEXT
Bryant will play its second of a three game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 30 when the Bulldogs host NEC foe Monmouth University. Bryant will be celebrating the past decade of women's basketball, including unveiling an All-Decade team. The Bulldogs defeated the Hawks, 72-62, on the road this season. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m.