January 2, 2008

BRYANT BACK IN ACTION TO HOST MERRIMACK COLLEGE AT 5:30

LISTEN LIVE /  LIVE VIDEO /  LIVE STATS / GAME NOTES 

BRYANT UPDATE
THE GAME                                                           
The Bryant women's basketball team returns to Northeast-10 Conference play after a four-game out-of-conference stretch to host Merrimack College Wednesday night in the Chace Athletic Center. With an eight-game winning steak on the line, the Bulldogs look to set a new school record for consecutive wins with a victory tonight. Tipoff is 5:30 p.m.

WAGING WAR                                                     
The Bulldogs and the Warriors have met 47 times entering the 2007-08 season and Bryant holds the 28-19 (.596) advantage. The Bulldogs went 2-0 against Merrimack last season, taking an 88-51 victory on the road before winning, 62-58, at home.

LAST TIME OUT                                                   
The Bulldogs tied a school record for consecutive wins (8) with a 74-55 victory over Caldwell College in their final game of the 2007 Bryant Holiday Classic on Dec. 29. Junior guard Cara Johnson notched new career highs in points (21) and rebounds (11) to lead Bryant to its 10th win of the season. Sophomores Jamie Campbell and Kelsey O'Keefe also earned new career numbers, with Campbell scoring 13 points while O'Keefe collected six assists and 15 boards (tied career high). With the win, the Bulldogs went 4-0 over the winter intermission and upped its stock on the national scene with 11 points in the Others Receiving Votes category.

UP NEXT                                                              
Bryant hits the road for the first time since Dec. 8 when it travels to Albany, NY to take on Saint Rose, Sat., Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m. in the Nolan Gymnasium.

BULLDOGS ON THE AIR                                       
Fans can catch all of the action this year by tuning into www.bryantbulldogs.com with Pat Sullivan and Jared Hager calling all of the action at no cost to the listener. For the second-straight year, fans can also watch selected games through www.NE10.tv at a cost of $6.99 per game. Also this year, track each game live online for free with LIVE STATS by visiting www.bryantbulldogs.com and clicking the Live Stats link. 

NOTABLES                                                            
* Bryant is 7-1 at home this season and is on a conference-best eight-game winning streak.

* In the Bryant women's basketball record books, senior captain Lynne-Ann Kokoski sits at No. 4 in all-time assists and needs just two steals to take sole possession of the No. 7 slot (currently has 112). Her 171 made free throws rank her eighth all-time.

* In just her second season as a Bulldog, Kelsey O'Keefe has already cracked the top-10 in career points (10th/599), field goals made (9th/215), 3-pointers made (7th/41), 3-pointers attempted (5th/155) and blocked shots (T-6th/28). Her current numbers rank her in the top-10 in scoring average (2nd/14.3 ppg), field goal percentage (2nd/.467) and rebounding average (3rd/7.0). O'Keefe also owns the No. 1 spot for points in a single game (33) and field goals made (13), both against Adelphi, Nov. 15, and is tied for most rebounds in a single game (15).

* Freshman Siamone Bennett's four blocks against Stonehill ties her at No. 1 for blocks in a single game.