Women's College Basketball
#25 Marist College 76, Rider University 46
LAWRENCEVILLE ? Despite 14 points and five rebounds from senior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin), the Broncs were unable to overcome a strong, offensive Marist squad falling to the 25th ranked Red Foxes in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Sunday afternoon. “The effort was there,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “Marist has a terrific team and they execute extremely well.”
The Broncs dressed only eight players with flu like symptoms running through the rest of the team.
“When their opportunity comes, you have to be ready,” said Milligan. “I think the players who played were ready. It was alumni day today and I thought about pulling some of the former players out of the stands and having them suit up. Life has adversity and today was a test of that. Your true character comes out when you are faced with adversity and with so many players sick this morning, it was a test.”
Before a crowd of just under 1,500 fans, Rider celebrated National Girls and Women in Sport day and the game was also Rider's participation in the NCAA Pack the House Challenge.
For Rider (7-19, 2-13 MAAC), sophomore Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Marist (25-2, 15-0 MAAC) jumped out to 9-0 lead in the first four minutes of play, before a three-pointer by Meyers broke the run, and the Red Foxes countered with another 9-0 drive to go up by 15 and Marist led by 20 at halftime.
“Teams are playing us a little different,” said Milligan. “They are sagging off the players who penetrate down the lane and we are having a difficult time determining when we should shoot and when we should drive the lane.”
Leading by 21 with 16 minutes left in the game, Marist went on another 9-0 run to take a 30 point lead.
“We came to play,” Milligan added. “Unfortunately, we had to face the best team in the conference and one of the best in the nation with a shorthanded lineup.”
Also for the Broncs sophomore Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun) had five assists, three rebounds and two steals with junior Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) adding five points, six rebounds and three steals.
Sophomore Ashley Anderson (East Orange) also had five points and six rebounds for Rider.
The Red Foxes had 20 assists in the game, making 28 field goals. “Marist is an extremely unselfish team,” said Milligan. “They are a very disciplined team. They work to get the best shot, not necessarily the first open shot but the best shot and you saw that today.”
Marist defeated Rider in Poughkeepsie, New York 84-63 on February 1.
The Red Foxes lead the all-time series 25-13 and have won 64 of their 67 MAAC games including 21 in a row.
Marist, which clinched its fifth MAAC regular season title in a row on Friday, has won 15 straight and has defeated Rider 10 games in a row.
Rider makes its annual trip to Western New York, taking on Canisius Friday night before traveling to Niagara Falls to face Niagara on Sunday afternoon. “The Buffalo trip is a great opportunity,” Milligan said. “We have three games left and they are all winnable. We'll be ready but the biggest challenge we have before us is to get healthy.”
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