Watch: NECfrontrow.com
Live Stats: RMUColonials.com
FULL GAME NOTES
ON TAP AT THE SEAWALL CENTER
The Bryant University women's basketball team will look to remain atop the Northeast Conference standings when they visit Robert Morris on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip.
THE SERIES
The Colonials hold a commanding 8-2 all-time series lead over the Bulldogs dating back to Bryant's first season of Division I play in 2008-09. The two teams met three times last season with Robert Morris taking all the matchups including a 72-67 victory in the Northeast Conference Tournament Semifinals. In those three games, Jenniqua Bailey led Bryant with 13.3 points and eight assists per game, while Breanna Rucker and Tiersa Winder each chipped in 10 ppg.
Having never won at Robert Morris, the Bulldogs' last victory came during in 2012-13 regular season finale when the Black and Gold took down the Colonials in overtime to secure their first-ever berth into the NEC Tournament.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
After a difficult non-conference schedule, Robert Morris is beginning to find its footing in Northeast Conference play, entering Saturday's showdown with Bryant boasting a 6-2 NEC mark, 8-11 overall. Winners of five in-a-row, the Colonials are coming off a pair of big road win over the weekend, knocking off St. Francis Brooklyn on Saturday before running Mount St. Mary's out of the gym, 68-44, Monday night.
Sophomore guard Anna Niki Stamolamprou leads her team in almost every statistical category including points (14.8 ppg), rebounds (5.9 rpg), assists (2.5 apg), steals (1.2 spg), and minutes (34.6 mpg). Junior guard Ashley Ravelli and freshman Megan Smith rank second and third on RMU in scoring at 8.7 and 8.6 ppg, respectively.
As a team, the Colonials hold opponents to just 64.4 points per contest (3rd in NEC) and just a .387 shooting percentage (1st in NEC). They also shoot the three at the second highest percentage in the league at. 333 and make the most 3's per game, averaging nearly eight triples per game.
NEC'S TOP DOG
After a record-setting season in 2013-14, the Bulldogs are off to their best start of Northeast Conference play in program history. At 7-1, Bryant sits atop the NEC standings tied with Central Connecticut. The Black and Gold currently rank first among league opponents in scoring offense (73.4 ppg), scoring margin (+5.6), rebounding offense (42.2 rpg), rebounding defense (33.9 rpg), and rebounding margin (+8.3).
RUCKIN' N ROLLIN'
Junior forward Breanna Rucker has been an absolute beast for the Black and Gold this season, putting up 24 points and a career-high 17 rebounds in an overtime victory over LIU Brooklyn on Monday. Rucker currently ranks first in the NEC and sixth in the country in rebounding (12 rpg), seventh in scoring (16.5 ppg) and fourth in FG percentage (.475). Through 19 games this season, Rucker has posted a league-best 15 double-doubles (tied for third in the country), including 10 in her last 12 games.
WIND IT UP
Junior Tiersa Winder put together a stellar showing in wins over Sacred Heart and LIU Brooklyn, averaging 23.5 ppg in another 2-0 weekend for the Bulldogs. Winder put up a career-high 27 points on 5-of-9 shooting from deep in a narrow victory over Sacred Heart on Jan. 24 before following that up with a 20 point performance in an OT thriller over LIU. The junior guard has now eclipsed the double-figure scoring mark in all but three games this season and currently ranks fifth in the league in scoring (18 ppg) in NEC games.
MONEY MORGAN
Sophomore center Morgan Olander registered a career-high 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field in Monday's victory over LIU Brooklyn. Olander has now registered double digits in each of the last three games and ranks 20th in the NEC in scoring with 10.8 ppg.
BRING ON MONDAYS
With Monday's OT victory over LIU Brooklyn, the Bulldogs improved to a perfect 4-0 on Mondays this season. The Bulldogs are 10-1 this year during the work week (Mon.-Fri.) and just 4-4 on weekends.
WINDEX
Always among the top rebounding teams in the Northeast Conference, Bryant once against sits at the top in almost every rebounding category in the league rankings. Outrebounding opponents by an average margin of 8.3 rpg (first in NEC), the Bulldogs have outrebounded the opposition in 16 of 19 contests this season.
STARTING FIVE
All five Bulldog starters (Jenniqua Bailey, Tiersa Winder, Ivory Bailey, Breanna Rucker, and Morgan Olander) are averaging at least 10 points per game enter Monday's game, making Bryant the lone team to accomplish that feat.
RECORD-SETTING NIGHT
Bryant was impressive across the board in its 84-48 victory over Wagner on Jan. 19, posting season-highs in margin over victory (36), assists (21), rebounds (61), 3-point field goals made (11), 3-point FG percentage (.688), and points allowed (48). The Bulldogs have now won six of their last seven and currently sit in first place in the NEC standings.
TICKET TO THE RIDE
Single-game and season ticket packages are still available for the 2014-15 men's and women's basketball seasons. Fans can purchase tickets online at www.bryantbulldogs.com/tickets or by calling the Bryant Athletics Ticket Office at 401-519-TIXX.
CAN'T MAKE IT TO THE GAME?
Bryant University Athletics and the Northeast Conference have partnered with Pack Network to create NEC Front Row, the home for all NEC men's and women's basketball broadcasts in 2014-15. Visit www.NECFrontRow.com for more information and a schedule of events.
