HACKENSACK, N.J. - Following a 66-58 win against Sacred Heart in the NEC Quarterfinal game, the #1 FDU women's basketball team (19-10, 15-3 NEC) will advance to the semifinal game on Thursday to host #7 Bryant (9-21, 6-12 NEC) at 7 p.m. in Stratis Arena.
 
The Bulldogs will advance to the second round after upsetting #2 St. Francis Brooklyn in a 65-63 upset in Brooklyn. This will mark the team's third meeting with FDU this season in their second trip to Hackensack.
 
Game Info
NEC Tournament Semifinal Game
FDU (19-10, 15-3 NEC) vs. Bryant (9-21, 6-12 NEC) 
Thursday, March 10, 7 p.m. – Stratis Arena inside the Rothman Center (Hackensack, N.J.)
Coverage: NEC Front Row | ESPN3 | SNY | MASN | FDU Radio Network | Live Stats
In-Game Updates: @FDUKnightsWBB
Tickets 
 
All-Time Series
Bryant leads 17-10
Streak...W1
First Meeting...11/17/2008 (FDU 59, BRYANT 51)   
Last Meeting...2/19/2022 (FDU 59, BRYANT 52)
 
Preview the Matchup
FDU has split the season with a win and a loss against Bryant, dropping their first conference tilt at Chace Center in early January. 
 
In their first matchup, the Bulldogs employed seven active players as FDU's bench was held to six with assistant coach Jessica Simmonds as acting head coach. After a tight first quarter, the Bulldogs managed a 14-2 run before halftime to maintain an edge to the final buzzer. Two freshmen saw their first career starts as graduate student Madison Stanley led the Knights with 19 points. For the Bulldogs, Brooke Bjelko logged a career-high 32 points, filling the stat sheet with nine rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal.
 
With both teams back at full force, FDU hosted the Bulldogs in February to garner a 59-52 victory in Stratis Arena. Bryant kept pressure on the Knights throughout the matchup, outscoring FDU in the final half. It was Aniya Bell who led the Knights with 18 points, shooting five-for-five from the stripe while Bryant's Fatou Jallow and Bjelko shot for a combined 24 points.
 
Scouting the Bulldogs
Bjelko earned All-NEC Second Team honors on Monday after leading the Bulldogs through the regular season with 13 points per game to rank fourth in the conference. Bjelko also ranks in the top three in the NEC in rebounds and blocks, recording five double-doubles this season alone.
 
Jallow has proven to be another force for the Bulldogs, averaging 7.9 points per game and ranking sixth in the conference in steals. With an average three assists per game, Jallow anchors Bryant to rank fourth in the conference.
 
Scouting the Knights
Three Knights tabbed All-NEC honors on Monday as Stanley was named NEC Player of the Year and head coach Angelika Szumilo as Brenda Reilly Coach of the Year.
 
The Knights have recorded a historic 15 wins in regular season conference play to clinch the NEC Regular Season Championship title.
 
Stanley has posted a phenomenal NEC campaign this season with an average 14.6 points per game, shooting 52 percent from the floor to lead the conference. The graduate student also leads the Knights in rebounds and blocks to rank in the NEC's top four. 
 
Bell and Chloe Wilson earned All-NEC Third Team selections as they have helped guide the Knights to rank fourth in scoring and first in scoring defense in the conference. 
 
Next Up
The winner of Thursday's game will advance to the NEC Championship game set for Sunday at noon. They will take on the winner of #4 Wagner at #3 Mount St. Mary's at the home court of the higher seeded team.