SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team travels north to Durham, N.H. for its second America East matchup of the season, as the 3-0 Bulldogs take on 1-2 New Hampshire in their third-ever meeting on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

THE SERIES
This contest will mark the third meeting between the Bulldogs and Wildcats with the series mark in Bryant's favor, 3-0. In last year's meeting, the Black and Gold only edged out the Wildcats by 13, 55-42, the largest differential in the series. 

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
The Wildcats (1-2) enter Tuesday's contest off a 92-43 loss to Kentucky on Nov. 17. Junior Carlie Pogue leads UNH in scoring through the first three games, averaging 12 points a game, while shooting 36.1% from the floor and 58.8% from the line. The center also tops the Wildcats in rebounds (7.0) in an average of 26 minutes per game. Classmate Brittini Lai leads the Wildcats' backcourt offensively, putting up 9.7 points per game, while averaging a team-high three assists.

Looking at the team stats, the Wildcats are likely to be the first team this season to challenge the Bulldogs on the boards. UNH averages 45 rebounds per game, while Bryant averages 47. Thus far, UNH is the only team Bryant has faced this season that has a positive double-digit rebounding differential, as the Wildcats average 11 more boards than their competitors.

KEYS TO THE GAME
Rebounding and post defense are going to be two major keys for the Bulldogs in this matchup. Most of UNH's offensive production has come from their center and being able to shut her down will help limit the Wildcats scoring threat. Bryant will have to focus on boxing out this game. They have not been tested too much on the boards through the first three games, but seeing as though UNH averages 11 more rebounds than their opponents, the Bulldogs will need to secure the boards on both ends of the court. Offensively, Bryant will need to limit their turnovers, as they average 18.7 a game, and focus on hitting open shots, especially from behind the three.  

4-0?
The Bulldogs have never started the season 4-0 in Division I program history. The closest Bryant has come in the past was a 3-0 start in the 2014-15 season, after defeating Maine, Vermont and Canisius. Boston College was the team to break the Bulldogs' streak, beating the Bulldogs, 90-79, in Chestnut Hill.

"I'm not looking to win three games, four games or five games," said head coach Mary Burke. "I am just looking for us to get better every day. We are still putting it together and trying to find players that will get it done. I am not getting caught up with the amount of wins we can accrue right now. I am worried about the team getting better and getting where they need to be. It would be great to keep winning. It gives the kids more confidence and that snowballs which is all well and good, but we need to worry about fixing the areas where we need improvement.

WATCH ME NAE-NAE
Junior Naomi Ashley had herself a career day against Brown, earning her first-career start, playing a career-high 33 minutes. The guard produced on both ends of the court, recording personal-bests in points (10), rebounds (9), steals (2), assists (2), field goals (3-for-7) and free throws (4-for-10). Ashley, head coach Mary Burke's defensive specialist, held Brown's Shayna Mehta to 21 points after the sophomore went 7-for-7 from three and scored 30 points in last years' matchup.

"There is no one I am happier for," Burke said in response to Ashley's performance. "She has worked very hard and she deserves this moment. We were looking for someone to give us that spark at the two-guard position and she gave us rebounding, defense, points and she did unbelievable job at it.

REBOUNDING MARGIN
The Bulldogs average 17 more rebounds than their opposition through the first three games. In their best performance, Bryant out-rebounded Brown by 23, marking their highest rebounding differential since the 2014 season.

BIG D
In their last game, the Bulldogs held the Bears, who averaged 81.5 points through the first two games, to only 67 points in their 70-67 win on Thursday night. The Black and Gold were helped by the defensive efforts of Ashley and as a team out-rebounded the Bears by 23.

LEADING AT HALF
After leading at halftime in all three contests this season, the Bulldogs have pulled out wins. Last year, Bryant went 17-6 when leading its opponent at the break.

QUARTER BREAKDOWN
Of the 13 periods the Bulldogs have played this season, including the overtime against Holy Cross, they have outscored their opponents on seven occasions. In their largest quarter differential, Bryant outscored the Crusaders, 21-11, in the opening period on the contest. In their winning periods, the Bulldogs average 3.71 more points. In their losing periods, the Black and Gold average a deficit of 3.75 points. Through the first three games of the season, Bryant has tied their opponents in two quarters, one occurring in the first period and the other in the last.

DOWN TO THE WIRE
The Bulldogs have yet to win a game by more than six points this season, averaging a +3.7 scoring differential. Bryant went to overtime against Holy Cross, ultimately winning by two. In the following game, Bryant defeated Brown by three in the final minute of the game.

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK
Against Vermont, Bryant had two players finish with double-digit points. Every game since they have seen the number of players in double-digits increase by one. In their latest contest, the Bulldogs had four players score 10+ points.

SENIOR CAPTAIN
Alex Klein, an important member of the team, is not only one-of-three captains this season, but is also the leading scorer to start the season. Klein currently averages a double-double off 23.0 points and 11.3 rebounds through the first two games. The forward has helped Bryant to a 3-0 start for the first time since the 2014-15 season. After scoring 25 points in the season-opener at Vermont, the Canadian native put up a new season-high 26 points against Holy Cross, just one point shy of her career-best 27 points that she scored in last year's semifinal loss to Robert Morris. The senior posted her second-straight double-double of the season against Brown off 18 points and 10 rebounds.

HAUL AWAY
Freshman Sydney Holloway has displayed her athleticism through the first three games, averaging 9.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 17.7 minutes per game. The small forward shoots 57.1% from the floor off 8-of-14 and 100% from the charity stripe off 12-for-12. In her best offensive performance of the season, Holloway scored 12 points, while grabbing eight rebounds. The rookie's collegiate debut resulted in eight boards, including five on the offensive glass. Holloway also put up eight points at Vermont, showing that she could be the player to fill Breanna Rucker's very big shoes. Her efforts earned her NEC Rookie of the Week in week one of the season. 

TWIN TOWERS
Bryant's inside game between 6-1 Klein and 6-2 Morgan Olander has been the driving force for the Bulldogs offensively. Together, the posts put up 46 of the team's 76 points in their overtime win over Holy Cross. Olander shot a career-best 9-for-13 from the field and 2-for-4 from the charity stripe, putting up a career-high 20 points, while Klein scored 26 points off a career-best 10-for-19 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the line. Klein also recorded her third-career double-double, helping average a double-double on the season off 23.0 points and 11.3 rebounds. 

NON-LEAGUE
Against non-league competitors in Division I play, the Bulldogs sit at 48-62, including just two winning seasons against non-conference opponents. The 2014-15 season was the last time the Bulldogs entered NEC play with a winning record, sitting at 8-5, while last year, Bryant went 4-9 to start the season. This season the Bulldogs are 2-0 to start, marking the last time since 2014-15. Bryant's strength of schedule has played a large role in its non-league struggles, including when Bryant played Big East member Seton Hall, America East competitor Maine and ACC opponent Boston College. The more challenging non-conference schedule continues this season with games at the Big Ten's Rutgers and the ACC's Pitt, along with similar nonleague opponents that Bryant faced last season. 

BURKE'S BLURB
Looking forward to UNH: "They are very post-driven," said Burke. "They are similar to us in that they like to get out and run. Their record isn't an indication of what they've done because they just came off their game against Kentucky. They are going to be looking to get back on track after that game. "

"We need to be ready to play. We need to stay true to who we are: get out in transition, run, defend and rebound. We have still been struggling offensively to make shots. We made a few against Brown but we still need to get into a better rhythm from outside, where we can hit the open looks. They are going to pack it in the paint, which means we are going to have to make open shots."

In regards to the game against Brown: "Unbelievable and gutsy performance. I'm so proud of the players for their passion to want to win and doing the things necessary down the stretch speaks volumes for the future and where we are going this year."