Watch: NECfrontrow.com
Live Stats: MountAthletics.com
FULL GAME NOTES
ON TAP AT KNOTT ARENA
The Bryant University women's basketball team will look to complete a season sweep of Mount St. Mary's when it heads to Emmitsburg, Md., for a 4:30 p.m. showdown with the Mountaineers on Saturday.
THE SERIES
Saturday afternoon marks the 11th all-time meeting between Bryant and Mount St. Mary's with the Mount holding a commanding 7-3 lead over the Bulldogs dating back to the 2008-09 season. Last year, The Mount swept the Black and Gold with a pair of single-digit victories however, the Bulldogs took the first meeting this season between the two schools with a 74-72 overtime win on Monday in Smithfield.
In 10 total games, Bryant and Mount St. Mary's have needed overtime to decide a victor on four occasions, with each contest decided by a margin of just 4.6 points. The Bulldogs head to Emmitsburg looking for just their second-ever victory at Knott Arena, a venue in which they hold a 1-4 career mark.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
Mount St. Mary's enters Saturday's contest vs. Bryant with a 7-16 overall record, 5-7 against Northeast Conference opponents. After opening NEC play with wins in six of their first eight games, the Mountaineers have struggled as of late, dropping five in-a-row, including an overtime heartbreaker in Smithfield Monday evening.
Led by senior sharpshooter Jacqueline Brewer's 13.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, the Mount starting lineup features a wealth of experience with two seniors and two juniors. Senior guard Jenn Carney rounds out the Mountaineers' double-digit scorers at 11.2 ppg to go along with 43 percent shooting from deep and 89 percent from the charity stripe.
Saturday's matinee with the Black and Gold marks the first of five-straight home games for Mount St. Mary's before wrapping up the year at Saint Francis U. on March 2.
NEC STANDINGS HEATING UP
With just six games remaining in the regular season, the top half of the Northeast Conference standings could not be any tighter. Central Connecticut (11-1) and Robert Morris (10-2) have each clinched a spot in the NEC Tournament with Bryant (9-3) and Sacred Heart (7-4) still in contention for a league title.
RUCKIN' N ROLLIN'
Junior forward Breanna Rucker posted her 18th double-double of the season in Monday's victory over Mount, putting up 23 points and 11 rebounds in 43 minutes of action. Rucker's NEC-leading 11.8 rebounds per game ranks seventh in the country and her 16.6 points per contest are fifth best among league opponents. Through 23 games this season, Rucker has hit double-figures 20 times, eclipsing the 20-point plateau six times.
MONEY MORGAN
Sophomore center Morgan Olander has registered double-doubles in each of her last four games, including an 18-point, 11-rebound outing at Robert Morris on Jan. 31. Olander, who is averaging a career-best 11.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, has scored double figures in seven-straight games dating back to Jan. 19.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
Junior forward Breanna Rucker and sophomore center Morgan Olander have been double-double machines this season, combining for 25 double dips through Bryant's first 23 games. Olander's seven double-doubles are fourth best in the Northeast Conference, while Rucker's 18 are tied for fourth most in the country. Rucker's 18 double-doubles also tie her with Naana Ankoma-Mensa (2012-13 season) for the most in a single season in Bryant Division I history.
BRING ON MONDAYS
With their 74-72 overtime win vs. Mount St. Mary's earlier this week, the Bulldogs improved to a perfect 6-0 on Mondays this season. The Bulldogs are 12-1 this year during the work week (Mon.-Fri.) and just 4-6 on weekends.
GIVE ME A BREAK
The Bryant women's basketball team played in back-to-back overtime games over the weekend, overcoming a 16-point first half deficit to force extra time before eventually falling, 70-67, at Sacred Heart on Feb. 7, before holding off Mount St. Mary's in a 74-72 OT thriller Monday evening. The Bulldogs are 2-1 this season in OT games, with all three coming during NEC play.
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 7.8 rpg (first in NEC, 18th in the country), the Bulldogs have outrebounded the opposition in 18 of 21 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.
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.
