January 18, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women's College Basketball
Fairfield University 59, Rider University 43
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
FAIRFIELD, Conn.?Despite 10 points from sophomore Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Fairfield Friday night. “We didn't do anything very well tonight,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.
Meyers also had three steals and three rebounds in 31 minutes of action.
“Fairfield zoned up on us and stayed in it and that slowed us down,” said Meyers. “I got some good looks in the first half because we got points of transition and when you don't have to work as hard on every possession, you conserve energy for our defensive effort.”
“Tammy is working on being more consistent,” Milligan said. “We are looking for her to have better options and to not have to make some of the tough decisions when she gets into the paint. She is a talented player for us and off the dribble, she is very strong.”
Down 13-10, Fairfield (12-5, 2-4 MAAC) went on an 18-0 run, six points by senior Meka Werts (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) opening up a 15 point lead 28-13 with 4:54 left in the first half and the Stags led 32-16 at intermission. Werts finished with 11 points.
Down by 21 points in the second half, Rider cut the lead to 16 several times but could get no closer.
“I have no explanation for the scoring droughts,” Milligan said. “We obviously practice our offense and we are not comfortable taking the shots. If you have that little bit of hesitation and that little bit of doubt, you are not going to make the shot. We are working everyday to try to get everyone's confidence back up.”
Trailing 6-2, Fairfield went on an 8-0 run, four points each by senior Sabra Wrice (Riverside) and Baendu Lowenthal (Riverside) to take a 10-6 lead with 12:42 left in the first half. Wrice finished with a game-high 20 points with Lowenthal adding 14 points and eight rebounds for the Stags.
Rider (5-12, 0-6 MAAC) answered with a 7-0 run, four points by Meyers to take a 13-10 lead with 10:09 left in the opening period.
Also for the Broncs, junior Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) had 10 rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
The Stags held a 51-32 rebound advantage including 20-10 on the offensive glass.
Fairfield has won six straight and 17 of 18 against Rider and leads the all-time series 22-2.
Winless this season on the road (0-6), Rider has lost five straight overall and the Stags have won two in a row.
The Broncs travel to Riverdale, New York for a MAAC game against Manhattan at 7:00pm on Monday night before returning home to face the Stags for the second time in seven days next Friday night. “I am actually happy to get Fairfield again in such a short period of time,” Milligan added. “I don't think we showed them who the real Rider is tonight.”
“We have to be hungry and want to win,” Meyers said. “We want to get that road goose egg off the board. We will be ready for Fairfield next Friday. We were prepared, we just didn't execute.”
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