Women's College Basketball
Marist College 84 Rider University 63
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.?Despite 14 points from sophomore Tammy Meyers (Willingboro), the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Marist Friday night. “We executed our offense and forced Marist to defend us and didn't just take the first quick shot,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “We tried to force Marist to put the ball on the floor more than they were used to and we were successful, for the first 17 minutes.”
Marist jumped out to a 5-0 lead and opened up an 11 point lead midway through the first half before Rider (6-15, 1-9 MAAC) went on a 12-4 run, four points by senior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Laughlin) to get within three 30-27 with 4:32 left in the first half. Henderson finished 11 points in 29 minutes of action.
The Red Foxes countered with a 10-0 run, opening up a 13 point lead 40-27 with 48 second left in the opening half and Marist led 40-29 at intermission.
“That's Marist,” Milligan said of the run at the end of the half. “They score quick and they got us at the end of the half and the beginning of the second half. We didn't come out with the same fire that we started the game with.”
Marist opened up a 24 point lead with 12 minutes remaining in the second half, quelling any attempt at a Bronc comeback.
“Marist has a great inside player in Rachel Fitz,” Milligan said. “When you force the ball out of her hands, Marist has three deadly shooters from the perimeter. Your margin for error against Marist is very, very small.” Fitz, the MAAC Player of the Week last week, finished with a ?double-double' scoring 20 points with 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. Fitz went a perfect 10 for 10 from the line.
The Red Foxes went 19 for 20 from the free throw line and shot 60 percent from three point range with Julianne Viani going six for six from three-point range.
Each team only committed nine turnovers. “I'm happy with how we executed our offense,” Milligan added. “I do think we got caught watching on some of the plays.”
Marist has won 10 straight.
The Red Foxes lead the all-time series 24-13 and have defeated Rider nine straight times.
Also for Rider, sophomore Stephanie Wisniewski (Levittown, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) had eight points in 18 minutes of play. “I think that Stephanie is becoming stronger and more confident with her moves.” Milligan said. “As long as she is catching the ball above the block, she has as good of a chance to score as anybody. She wanted the ball tonight and that was a positive.” Wisniewski missed two months with a foot injury and made her third start of the year in tonight's game.
Marist has won 31 straight MAAC games at the McCann Center and 60 of its last 63 conference games overall.
Rider hosts Manhattan on Sunday at 2:00pm in a MAAC game at Alumni Gym. “We've taken some good steps in the last few games with sticking to the game plan,” Milligan said. “You haven't always seen it in the scores but we are putting a better effort out there each time and we look to continue that on Sunday.”
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