Rider University 62, Loyola College (Md.) 47
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LAWRENCEVILLE?Junior Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) scored 22 points with fellow junior Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun) adding 18 as the Rider University women's basketball team defeated Loyola 62-47 on Friday night for its third win in a row.
“It is a credit to the kids and how hard they have been working,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “We had a choice to make during the losing streak and we decided to pull together and get better.”
Meyers shot nine for 10 from the field, making her last nine shots in a row. “This is a carry over from the last two games,” Meyers said. “I am feeling really confident right now, taking shots and running plays. We believe in the system and all of the hard work in practice is finally paying off.”
This is Meyer's third game in a row with at least 20 points. Meyers scored 21 at Manhattan last Sunday and 23 against the University of Pennsylvania Tuesday night.
“Tammy is playing with a lot of confidence,” Milligan said. “When she gets that look in her eye, you know when to make the play call for her.”
The Broncs jumped out to an early 10-2 lead, five points by Sepulveda. Sepulveda was four for five from beyond the arc, one three-pointer off her career high.
“Amanda has spent extra time in the gym over the winter break,” Milligan said. “She didn't have her stroke at the beginning of the season and she has been working hard to get it back.”
Sepulveda and freshman Alyssa Parsons (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) hit back to back three's as Rider (5-12, 2-4 MAAC) built a 24-11 lead with 5:46 left in the first half. Parsons finished with six points and three assists.
“Tammy and I are natural scorers,” Sepulveda said. “We know when to shoot and when to put our teammates into situations where they can be successful. That's what we try to do. Tammy is very creative so I try to make sure she gets the ball where she can score.”
“Getting an early lead and throwing the first punch is important for us,” Milligan said. “With our past, for us to make shots early is a big confidence boost for us.”
Loyola (8-8, 3-3 MAAC) responded with a 9-2 run to end the half, cutting the Bronc lead to 26-20.
A 4-0 run, all four points by Meyers, opened a 30-20 lead for Rider with 17:04 left in the game.
The Greyhounds went on an 8-2 run to cut Rider's lead to four before a Meyers jumper and three-point field goal by Parsons gave the Broncs a 43-34 lead.
Trailing by nine, Loyola used a 7-0 run to cut the Bronc lead to 43-41 with 5:40 left in the game but that was as close as the 'Hounds would get as Rider led wire to wire.
“We are starting to get used to playing with a lead,” Meyers said. “When Loyola made its run, we stayed composed and kept playing our game. They threw their punch and we responded right back.”
“I'm trying to be more vocal from the point guard position,” Sepulveda added. “We are talking more and playing more as a team. A big part of our recent success has been better communication with each other on the floor.”
Rider clinched the game with a 12-2 run, eight points by Meyers, making the score 55-43 with just under two minutes remaining. Meyers was a perfect seven for seven from the floor in the second half.
“Tonight Tammy wanted the ball,” Milligan said. “She stepped up when it got close and made some big shots for us. As a team, we made some big shots at the right time. We answered every run that Loyola made at us and that shows the growth of the team over the past several weeks.”
The Broncs made seven of eight free throws down the stretch for the final score.
Also for Rider, senior Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) had 13 rebounds with sophomore Cintella Spotwood (Trenton/Trenton Central) adding eight points, nine rebounds (six offensive) and three steals.
“Cintella works hard,” Milligan said. “She understands what her potential is. She is going to be a terrific player.”
Freshman Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian), the MAAC Rookie of the Week for all games December 29-January 4, had a career-high nine rebounds and blocked three shots in only 17 minutes of play.
The Broncs made a season-high nine three-point fields goals in the game.
This is Rider's first win over Loyola in the last nine games and only the second in the last 14 meetings. Loyola defeated Rider in Baltimore 86-78 on December 7, 2008. The Greyhounds lead the overall series 25-8.
This is the longest Bronc winning streak since the 2004-05 season when Rider defeated Manhattan, Iona and Saint Peter's. “The streak is nice but it is a long season in the MAAC,” Milligan added. “We need to keep things in perspective and continue to work hard and not forget where we were and how hard it was to get here.” Rider last won four in a row during the 1999-2000 season when the Broncs finished 14-14.
For Loyola, Meredith Tolley had a career-high 24 points with Kaitlin Grant tying an 18-year old Greyhound record with eight steals.
Rider travels to Iona on Sunday for a MAAC game in New Rochelle, New York at 2:00pm.
“Iona plays extremely hard,” Milligan said. “They pressure you up and down the floor and force you to play faster than you want. If we dictate play, we'll be right there. If we try to run and gun with them, it will make for an interesting day.”
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