BULLDOGS HOST SAINT FRANCIS (PA) THURSDAY AT 4PM

February 02, 2010

BULLDOGS HOST SAINT FRANCIS (PA) THURSDAY AT 4PM

GAME TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON NORTHEAST CONFERENCE TV

SMITHFIELD, RI - With just six games remaining in its first full season with a Northeast Conference schedule, the Bryant University women's basketball team currently sits tied for fourth place in the conference with a 7-5 league record. The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday at 4 p.m. against Saint Francis (Pa.) in the Chace Athletic Center. Bryant looks to continue a season turnaround that began in early January. The Bulldogs had lost six in a row from December 7 to January 7, but won seven of the following nine. After splitting action last week with Central Connecticut, the Bulldogs enter Thursday's contest with a 10-13 overall record. Saint Francis (Pa.) is currently in a three way tie for sixth place and battling for one of the eight positions in the NEC Tournament. Despite being ranked fourth in the conference, the Bulldogs are ineligible for postseason play due to the DI transition. The Red Flash is 9-13 and currently leads the series over the Bulldogs, 1-0. The two teams met last season with SFPA prevailing 80-75 at home. This will be the first visit to the Chace Athletic Center for the Red Flash.

Not unlike any of the past three seasons, the Bulldogs are led by their 6-foot-1 forward, Kelsey O'Keefe. The senior is averaging a team-high 14.6 points per game and has scored 1,683 points in her career, good enough for third place all-time. However, new and young faces are beginning to shine for Bryant as it continues its march into Division I. Freshman Meredith Soper has started the last 11 games for the Bulldogs and is currently ranked third on the team in rebounding. Classmate Danielle Douglas has now started 12 consecutive games and has played a crucial role in the season turnaround. On the offensive end, Douglas averages just 4.0 ppg but she makes her presence felt on defense. The rookie averages 1.2 steals per game and currently leads the team with 26.

ONLY ONE IN SIX SPLIT ON RIVALRY WEEKEND
Five Northeast Conference teams swept their two-game series match-ups during the conference's inaugural Rivalry Weekend. Only Central Connecticut State and NEC newcomer Bryant battled to a series split with each team successfully defending its home court. Remaining tied atop the NEC standings, Robert Morris (11-1) and Sacred Heart (11-1) each dealt a pair of losses to cross-state rivals. RMU posted a six-point overtime win over Saint Francis (PA) before beating the Flash by 31 points at the Sewall Center. SHU held Quinnipiac to an average of 42.5 points per game over a pair of double-digit wins. Long Island stayed within three games of the league leaders by sweeping St. Francis (NY) in the "Battle of Brooklyn." Monmouth twice bested Fairleigh Dickinson in the Garden State Rivalry series while Wagner won two against Mount St. Mary's.

The innovative concept of playing back-to-back games against a local rival in a 48-hour span is the only one of its kind among the nation's 31 NCAA Division I conferences.

NEC Rivalry Week provides an exciting and unique approach to creating a buzz among our fanbase," said Noreen Morris, NEC Commissioner. "By highlighting a number of long-standing rivalries, it should make for a dynamic weekend of hoops action across the Conference. In many cases, the geographic proximity of our institutions will allow fans the opportunity to attend both ends of the home-and-home series."

SCOUTING THE RED FLASH
The Saint Francis (Pa.) women's basketball team is coming off a week with two matchups against intrastate and conference rival Robert Morris. The Colonials defeated the Red Flash in both matchups last week. SFPA played the Colonials into overtime at home on Thursday but fell short, 76-70. On Saturday the Red Flash did not fare so well. Robert Morris dominated Saint Francis (Pa.) all game and went on to win by 31 points. The Colonials held the Flash to just 14 made field goals for the game.

The Red Flash is one of the top scoring teams in the Northeast Conference. They average 67.3 points per game, good enough for second in the league behind only Long Island. SFPA is also 4th in the conference in field goal percentage shooting 38.7 percent and second in the league in 3-point field goals percentage with 37 percent. However, on the other side of the court the Red Flash does not fair so well. SFPA is allowing 67 ppg, currently ranking them 10 of 12 in the NEC. They are also dead last in field goal percentage defense, allowing opponents to shoot 42.6 percent against them.

Saint Francis (Pa.) has three players averaging double figure scoring. Leading the high powered offense is senior Britney Hodges. Hodges is ranked second in the conference in scoring, averaging 16.3 points per game. Behind her is Samantha Leach. Leach is averaging 13 points per game, good enough for 10th in the NEC. Hodges is also ranked 5th in assists (92) and steals (43) in the conference.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
With her 33 and 34-point performances against Monmouth and Quinnipiac, respectively, Kelsey O'Keefe has the two highest single-game point totals in the Northeast Conference this season. She is currently ranked eighth in the NEC, averaging 14.6 ppg.

The Bulldogs are shooting well from long-range this season and are currently in fourth place in the NEC in 3-point shooting percentage, averaging 34.0 percent from beyond the arc. Bryant is third in 3-point shots made with 132 on the season and fifth in the conference in assists, averaging 13.13 per game. Coming into tonight's contest, sophomore Lekia Cowen is ranked fourth in the NEC, shooting 41.8 percent from long range. Senior captain Kristin Mraz is ranked eighth in the NEC with her 87 assists while O'Keefe is ranked second in free throw shooting percentage, averaging 86.7 percent from the line.

CRASHING THE BOARDS
The Bryant Bulldogs have outrebounded their opponents in 16 games so far this season, including nine of the 10 victories. Bryant is currently ranked second in the NEC in rebounding, averaging 40.9 per game. The Bulldogs are fourth in the NEC in rebounding margin, averaging 2.8 boards better than their opponents. In the NEC, Kelsey O'Keefe and Siamone Bennett are ranked 13th and 18th in rebounds per game, respectively. O'Keefe is averaging 6.4 boards per game while Bennett pulls in an even six. Bennett is also second in the conference in offensive rebounds, pulling down and average of 3.3 offensive rebounds per game while O'Keefe sits in sixth place in defensive boards, pulling down 5.35 a night. Bennett also remains tied for first place in the conference with 30 blocked shots.

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE TV TO BROADCAST GAME
With two dates left, the NEC women's basketball regular season webcast schedule is 75 percent complete. The next-to-last game on the slate puts Saint Francis (PA) up against Bryant later this week. The Red Flash and the Bulldogs will meet on February 11, tipping off at 4:00 pm. Expanding beyond the television dial this season, the Northeast Conference partnered with the Pack Network to bring fans a NEC Women's Basketball Game of the Week live on the internet. The eight-game package consists of professionally-produced weekly webcasts that are free to the viewing public. The Northeast Conference and the Pack Network are pleased to strengthen a partnership that began three seasons ago with the broadcast of the 2008 NEC Tournament quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. Log onto NortheastConference.TV for viewing links.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will host Robert Morris on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. in the Chace Athletic Center. The Colonials are currently tied for first in the conference with an 11-1 league mark. With a 91-80 win last season, RMU currently leads the series one game to none over the Bulldogs.