Women's College Basketball
Saint Peter's College 62, Rider University 56
JERSEY CITY?In a game that saw five ties and four lead changes, all in the first half, the Broncs lost at Saint Peter's in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game on Friday night. “We didn't have the defensive consistency we needed in the first half,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “We played better in the second half but we need to play with that defensive intensity for 40 minutes.”
For Rider (6-17, 1-11 MAAC), sophomore Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) scored 16 points on seven of 16 shooting with four assists and four rebounds in 35 minutes of action.
“Tammy has been a spark for us,” Milligan said. “With her now hitting the outside shot, she is really becoming a problem for other teams to guard. She can drive the ball to the basket or hit from long range and we want her to be that ?hard to guard' type of player and she is working hard to do that. She is expanding her game and you can't just defend her off the dribble.”
Meyers has led Rider in scoring in six of the last seven games and has hit at least five field goals in nine straight games.
Trailing 60-47 with five minutes remaining, Rider went on a 9-0 run, four points by Meyers to get within four (60-56) at the one minute mark but the Broncs could get no closer as Saint Peter's hit two free throws for the final score.
“We gave ourselves an opportunity to win the game with our second half defensive pressure but we came up a little short,” Milligan said.
Sophomore Stephanie Wisniewski (Levittown, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie) added 10 points with five rebounds in 19 minutes.
“Steph had a very solid night tonight,” Milligan added. “She worked very well inside and gave us some great finishes. She is strong inside and being out-sized almost every night, having Stephanie back from her injury is a plus for us. With her presence on the block, Steph gets us some good inside and outside looks.”
After playing the first game of the season, Wisniewski missed the next 13 due to a stress fracture in her foot but has played the last nine in a row, starting three of the last four games.
Sophomore Ashley Anderson (East Orange) led the Broncs with seven rebounds and has led Rider in rebounding two of the last three games.
“Ashley knows her role,” Milligan said. “She knows that she needs to be a presence under the basket when she is in the game. The rebounds that she is able to get with the minutes that she has played are pretty impressive. She has a nose for the ball. Her blue collar work ethic is something we need for all the players to have. She is not afraid to dive for the ball and get dirty and we need that effort on a consistent basis.”
Anderson is averaging 12.4 rebounds per 40 minutes played.
With the score tied at 18, Saint Peter's (16-7, 8-4 MAAC) went on a 12-6 run opening up a six point lead (30-24) with five minute left in the opening period.
The Broncs countered with an 8-2 run, four points by Wisniewski to tie the game at 32.
The Peahens responded with a 7-0 run to close out the half and led 39-32 at halftime.
“We can't give up 39 points in the opening half and expect to win,” Milligan added.
Saint Peter's leads the all-time series against Rider 34-7 and have defeated the Broncs in seven straight games including a 75-67 win in Alumni Gym on January 11.
The Broncs have lost three in a row and the Peahens have won three straight improving their home record to 12-1.
Rider has lost 13 games by 10 points or less with 11 of the losses by single-digits, tops in the nation.
The Broncs host Iona in a MAAC game on Sunday at 1:00pm. “Iona is going to do the same things that Saint Peter's did tonight with the full court press,” Milligan added. “They [Iona] are going to make you play an ugly type of game and we are going to have to be disciplined with our offense and lock down on defense.”
The Gaels defeated Rider in New Rochelle, New York 67-58 on January 6.
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