Women's College Basketball
Loyola College 55, Rider University 49
BALTIMORE, Md.?Despite three players in double-digits, the Broncs could not overcome a cold shooting night, falling at Loyola on Friday night in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game. “With a young team, consistency is one of our main issues,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “We get into a funk, make some great plays, get close and then don't capitalize.”
For Rider (7-18, 2-12 MAAC), senior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) and sophomore Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun) each had 13 points with sophomore Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) notching her first career ?double-double' with 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds.
“Tammy does a very good job for us,” Milligan said. “She is still learning to be that consistent, mature upperclassman which is what we need her to be. She is very talented. She can shoot the three or drive to the basket. She is a very dangerous player for opponents to have to guard and is a tough match up.”
Each team shot 34 percent in the game with the Broncs hitting only six field goals in the first half.
“Our defense was solid tonight,” Milligan added. “Our offense started slow and it caught up with us.”
Trailing 28-18 to start the second half, Rider went on a 12-2 run, six points by Henderson, cutting the Loyola lead to two with 16 minutes left in the game.
Loyola (11-13, 6-8 MAAC) responded with a 7-0 run, making the score 39-30 with 12 minutes remaining.
Rider cut the Greyhound lead to four at 41-37 with nine minutes left but could get no closer as Loyola used a 9-2 run to open up an 11 point lead with four minutes left.
A 10-2 run by the Broncs brought Rider to within four again with 30 seconds remaining before Loyola sealed the game at the foul line.
The Greyhounds held a 35-10 advantage in free throw attempts, making 25 to Rider's five in the game. The Broncs committed 22 fouls to Loyola's 12. “Once we got frustrated on offense, we started fouling,” Milligan said. “The advantage that Loyola had at the foul line hurt us.”
Loyola opened the game on an 8-0 run, all free throws before Rider countered with a 4-0 run, three points by Sepulveda. A 7-0 run by the ?Hounds brought the lead to 11 before the Broncs went on a 9-2 run, five points by Sepulveda. The Greyhounds followed with a 7-0 run and led 28-18 at the half. The teams combined for 0-13 from the field in the first eight minutes of the game.
The Greyhounds have won three straight overall and have won six in a row and 10 of the last 11 over Rider. Loyola leads the all-time series 23-7. The Greyhounds defeated Rider 66-59 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey on January 13.
12 of Rider's losses have been by single-digits, tops in the nation.
The Broncs host 25th ranked Marist in a MAAC game Sunday afternoon. “We have a tough challenge on Sunday,” Milligan said. “We need to get things back together quickly. Marist is a terrific team. They are undefeated in the conference. We expect to see a lot of three-point shooting and a well executed offense. We are going to have to do a good job on our perimeter defense and get out on screens. We have to stop their inside game the best we can.”
Rider will participate in the NCAA ?Pack the House Challenge' on Sunday and will also hold its annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
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