January 06, 2010

Game Notes / FDU Live Stats / MU Live Stats / MU Video

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL LOOKS TO REBOUND IN THE GARDEN STATE

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - After spending five days in Miami, the Bryant University women's basketball team begins a four-game stretch against Northeast Conference opponents. The action will tip-off with two games in the Garden State as the Bulldogs meet up with Fairleigh Dickinson at 5 p.m. on Thursday and then travel to West Long Branch for a meeting with the Monmouth Hawks on Saturday. The Bulldogs come into Thursday's matchup with a 3-9 overall record and a 1-1 mark in the NEC. Bryant is currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak following two losses at the 25th annual FIU Sun & Fun Classic in Miami, Fla. last week. The Knights are currently 4-8 overall with a loss in their only conference matchup against pre-season favorite Sacred Heart. FDU is most recently coming off a 69-61 loss at the hands of NJIT on Monday. The Bulldogs and the Knights have met twice in program history, with both meetings coming last season. Each team displayed their home-court advantage as FDU won, 59-51, at the Rothman Center and the Bulldogs earned a, 59-53, decision at home.

LITTLE SUN AND NO FUN FOR THE BULLDOGS
After being down 18 points at halftime in the opening game of the 25th FIU Sun & Fun Classic, the Bryant University women's basketball team, led by senior captain Kelsey O'Keefe and freshman Danielle Douglas, rallied back to pull within one point with 2:30 remaining in the contest but fell just short down the stretch losing, 68-60.

The Bulldogs were led offensively by O'Keefe's game-high 27 and Douglas's career-high 15 points. O'Keefe scored 20 of her 27 in the second half while Douglas registered 11 of her 15 in the latter as well.

FIU had six of their eight players who saw action in the game score nine points or more. Leading the way for the Golden Panthers was Fanni Hutlassa with 13 points. The Panthers had two players who each fell one point short of double-doubles. Elisa Carey scored nine points and recorded a game-high 14 rebounds while Monika Bosilj pulled down 12 boards and registered nine points as well. The 6-5 Maja Krajacic and Carey each had seven blocks en route to a 16-block night for the Panthers.

FIU displayed a balanced attack in the first half as four players scored six or more points to give the Golden Panthers a 41-23 lead after the first 20 minutes. Within the first five minutes, the Panthers hit three 3-point shots to jump out to an early 14-4 lead. FIU also added a 9-0 run in the first stanza. The Bulldogs were never able to get it going in the half as they shot a dismal 27.3 percent and committed 11 turnovers.

In the first 10 minutes of the second half, Bryant went on an impressive 25-12 run where all Bulldog points were recorded by O'Keefe and Douglas. During the stretch, the senior captain connected on three shots from beyond the arc while Douglas went a perfect 6-6 from the free throw stripe.

Over the last 10 minutes, the two teams battled back and forth as the Bulldogs were able to pull within one point when Siamone Bennett hit both her free throw shots with just 2:32 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Panther guard Fanni Hutlassa hit a long-range three from the top of the key to put FIU back up four. Douglas was able to pull Bryant back within two on the next possession as she came up with a loose ball in the paint and shot it up over the Panther post players for the final Bryant basket.

The Bulldogs turned the ball over twice in the last 1:17 and had no choice but to foul the Panthers and test their free-throw shooting ability. FIU made six of its last eight free throws to ice the game and move on as the host institution.

Bryant shot 29.2 percent from the field, including 6-17 from beyond the arc. Led by Douglas' 9-10 performance, the 'Dogs shot 76.2 percent from the charity stripe.

BULLDOGS DROP CONSOLATION GAME TO HAMPTON UNIVERSITY, 68-48
Down only five points at the half, the Bryant University women's basketball team was outplayed in the second period as Hampton University used two big runs to cruise to a 20 point victory in the consolation game of the 25th FIU Sun & Fun Classic.

Bryant senior Kelsey O'Keefe the only Bulldog in double figures as she recorded her second double-double of the season and 26th of her career scoring 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in the Bulldog loss. After the conclusion of the championship game, O'Keefe was named to the all-tournament team averaging 19.5 points in the classic.

Hampton had three players in double figures as Lady Pirate guard Whitney Hill scored 22 points, 17 of which were in the second half. Hill was 8-12 from the floor and 6-8 from the free-throw line. The outside shooting Jerika Jenkins also knocked down five three-pointers en route to her 17-point performance.

After a slow start, the Bulldogs found themselves down nine points early but were able to rally back to within five at the end of the first twenty minutes. Bryant received points from eight different players in the first half, led by senior captain O'Keefe. She had six points and added five first-half rebounds. Hampton's Jenkins led the way for the Lady Pirates as she poured in four first-half three-point buckets.

Hampton opened the second half with a 17-2 run over a six minute span to set the tone early in the period. The Lady Pirates also went on a 10-0 run later in the half to ensure the twenty point victory.

The Bulldogs committed 12 second-half turnovers and shot only 31 percent in the loss.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
The Knights are currently on a three-game losing streak, but have two players that are able to break out at any time at the guard position. Mariyah Laury and Alyssa Mayrose rank fourth and eighth in scoring in the conference, respectively. Mariyah averages 15.3 points per game while Mayrose contributes 13.3 points. The junior is also shooting 44.7 percent. In the last meeting between the two squads, the Bulldogs shot 46.7 percent and were led by O'Keefe's 12 points and seven rebounds as Bryant pulled off a six point victory on senior day at the Chace Athletic Center, 59-53.

SCOUTING THE HAWKS
In their first season in a new gym, the Monmouth University Hawks pride themselves on defense as they are currently leading the league in scoring defense allowing only 57.6 points per game. Unfortunately for the Hawks, they only average 52.2 points per game offensively. None the less, MU has managed a 5-8 overall but are currently 0-2 in the conference. The Hawks are led by guard Alysha Womack who averages just over 10 points per game. In last year's matchup, the Hawks had four players score 13 points or more as they cruised to a 67-49 victory over the 'Dogs.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
Through their first 12 games, Bryant is leading the Northeast Conference in rebounding margin averaging 4.2 boards more than their opponent. The Bulldogs also sit in second place in rebounding offense averaging 42.7 per contest. Bryant has also hit 71 three-pointers through the first 12 games, good enough for fourth place in the NEC. Senior Kelsey O'Keefe is currently ranked 11th in the NEC in scoring averaging 12.0 ppg. Junior Siamone Bennett is currently tied for first in the conference in blocks accumulating 18 through the the first 12 games. Bennett also sits in sole possession of first place in the offensive rebounds category, averaging over four per game. Bennett is currently sixth in the conference in overall rebounding, averaging 7.3 per contest.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING
O'Keefe is coming off her second double-double of the season in the loss to Hampton University in the consolation game of the Sun & Fun Classic last week in Miami. O'Keefe recorded 12 points and 10 boards en route to her 26th career double-double. Teammate Siamone Bennett scored 22 points and pulled down 10 boards against Long Island for her second double-double of the season. Earlier in the season Bennett registered 10 points and gathered 13 boards against Patriot League affiliate Holy Cross in mid-November. The junior post player has three in her three-year career.

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
After facing FDU on Thursday evening, the Bulldogs will travel south to West Long Branch, N.J. for a date with the Hawks. Bryant will then return home next Thursday, Jan. 14 when they host pre-season favorite Sacred Heart in the Chace Athletic Center at 5 p.m.