SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's basketball team hits the road for its longest trip of the season, beginning at Robert Morris on Saturday at 1 p.m.
GAME NOTES
THE SERIES
This contest marks the 15th meeting between the Bulldogs and Colonials with the series in Robert Morris' favor, 12-4.
SCOUTING THE COLONIALS
Robert Morris is heading into Saturday's game fresh off a 70-55 loss to its Pa. counterpart Saint Francis U. The Colonials are 3-3 in conference play, after defeating Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn and Wagner, while also falling to St. Francis Brooklyn and Sacred Heart.
The Colonials are the only team in the NEC to average a positive scoring margin through the first 17 games, putting up 1.8 more points than their opponents. RMU's 41.4 percent field goal percentage also leads the league, while they are last in free throw percentage at 62.4.
The Colonials are led offensively by Preseason ALL-NEC selection Anna Niki Stamolamprou, who averages 15.6 points per game off 40.3 percent shooting from the floor, 33.0 percent shooting from behind the arc and 63.2 percent shooting from the line. The only other Colonial to average double figures is Megan Smith, who puts up 12.3 points in her 17 starts. The forward leads the team with 51.3 percent shooting from the field, 53.5 percent shooting from three and 81.1 percent from the stripe.
HOT SHOOTING
For the first time this season and since Feb. 20, 2016 against Mount St. Mary's, the Bulldogs shot 50.0 percent in their, 70-61, win over Wagner. Bryant connected on 23-of-46 from the floor, as four Bulldogs finished in double figures.
WATCH ME NAY-NAY
Junior Naomi Ashley put up a career-high 17 points in Bryant's win over Wagner, as she connected on 6-of-7 from the floor, the highest shooting position of any Bulldog this season when hitting five or more field goals. The guard also went 5-for-6 from the line, while grabbing eight assists and two steals. The Bulldogs are 3-1 when Ashley has scored in double figures.
RIVALING COLONIALS
For three-consecutive years, the Colonials have knocked the Bulldogs out of the NEC postseason, including back-to-back upsets by No. 3 Robert Morris over No. 2 Bryant in the conference semifinals. The three postseason victories have aided the Colonials in a 12-4 series edge over the Bulldogs.
OUTREBOUNDED BY OPPONENT
For the second-straight game and third time this season, the Bulldogs were outrebounded by Wagner, 33-31. This season, Bryant is 1-2 when grabbing less boards than its opponents.
REBOUNDING MARGIN
The Bulldogs average the NEC's highest rebounding margin at +6.1 per game, placing them 48th nationally. In their best performance, Bryant out-rebounded Brown by 23, marking their highest rebounding differential since the 2014 season. The Bulldogs have lost three battles on the boards to Maine, Sacred Heart and Wagner by single digits.
O'CANADA
Klein tallied back-to-back double-doubles in Brooklyn, totaling 14 points and 10 rebounds at St. Francis Brooklyn and 15 points and 10 rebounds at LIU Brooklyn. The Ontario native tallied her fifth 20+ point game against Wagner, putting up a game-high 20 points. The remaining 20+ point games include Vermont, Holy Cross, Pitt and UMass Lowell. Klein averages a team-high 16.5 points per game.
