NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.?Junior Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) hit two free throws with 14 seconds remaining to break a 58-58 tie with sophomore Cintella Spotwood (Trenton/Trenton Central) going one for two from the line for the final score as the Rider University women's basketball team won its fourth in a row, 61-58 over Iona on Sunday afternoon.
“It was a wild game,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “Playing with a lead is something that we are starting to get better at but we had our moments, both good and bad. We didn't handle the pressure that Iona threw at us at the end of the game but we did just enough to hang on. We will work to continue to get better at that.”
Meyers, Rider's leading scorer coming into the game (14.9 ppg.), was held to six points but was four for four from the free throw line down the stretch.
“I knew I had to make the foul shots,” said Meyers. “If I have an off night shooting, I can still rely on foul shots and that makes me a threat anytime I'm on the court. I didn't shoot well but my teammates still had confidence in me and found me and I was able to get to the line.”
Spotwood had 10 points on four for six shooting and pulled down four rebounds.
“When your leading scorer doesn't shoot the ball well, others have to step up and we did that as a team,” Milligan said. “When you work hard, good things happen. Cintella is an ?X' factor for us. You really don't realize what she is doing until you look at the box score and watch the film. She is an unsung hero for us. She does those little things that make for a successful program.”
Trailing by three with 15 seconds left, Iona's Anda Ivkovic was fouled on a three-point attempt and tied the game at 58, making all three free throws. “The foul call was a tough one but it is a learning lesson for us,” Milligan said. “That experience is going to do nothing but help us in the future.”
Rider (6-12, 3-4 MAAC) led by 11 with three minutes left before Iona (10-9, 3-5 MAAC) rallied with a 14-3 run to tie the game. “Iona turned up its defensive pressure and obviously we made some bad decisions,” Milligan said. “We missed some shots but we believed we could still win the game and we got some key stops down the stretch.”
Iona held the Broncs without a field goal for the final six minutes of the game however the Broncs made eight of 10 free throws over the final 4:29.
The Broncs held the Gaels to 33 less points than the meeting one month ago in Lawrenceville.
“Our defensive philosophy is taking hold right now. Over the past couple of weeks, the team has really committed to the defensive game plan. You also can't overlook the effort that the assistant coaches have done putting together a solid scout plan for the other team. That has also helped the player be in the right positions to succeed. Defense wins you games and our effort on the defensive end is allowing us to take steps forward.”
After allowing 68.4 points per game in the first 14 games, Rider is allowing 58.5 points per game during the four-game winning streak.
Trailing 33-32, Rider rallied with an 18-4 run, four points by freshman Ali Heller (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews). Heller scored six points in six minutes off the bench. “Ali did a great job off the bench,” Milligan said. “We tell the players that you have to be ready when your number is called and when Alyssa Parsons lost a contact lens, Ali was ready and she delivered.”
“Ali stepped up,” Meyers added. “She was critical to the win. Her three-pointer was huge and so were her free throws. She didn't play like a freshman today.”
Heller was a perfect three for three from the charity stripe and a perfect one for one from long-range.
The Bronc defense held Iona without a field goal for almost 10 minutes and opened up its biggest lead of the game 50-37 halfway through the second half. Iona shot one for 21 from the field to start the second half.
Rider opened the game on a 10-0 run, six points by junior Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun). Sepulveda led all scorers with 17 points to go along with five rebounds, while playing all 40 minutes. “Amanda carried the team today,” said Milligan. “She did an unbelievable job. The first three minutes of each half is where we won the game.”
“We were patient when we had to be,” said Sepulveda. “When we had opportunities, we attacked but we stayed steady and kept things under control.”
Trailing 19-9 with 13 minutes left in the opening half, Iona used an 18-4 run to take a 27-23 lead with five minutes remaining before halftime.
Rider responded with a 7-0 run, four points by freshman Alyssa Parsons (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Wood) as Rider took a 30-27 lead with 2:43 left before intermission. Parsons finished with six points, two rebounds and two assists.
The teams traded baskets for the rest of the half with the Gaels holding a 33-32 margin at the half.
Also for the Broncs, freshman Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) had nine points while compiling a career-high 14 rebounds including five on the offensive glass. Homan also blocked three shots while playing a career-high 29 minutes. “The shots Sarah made were big ones,” Milligan said. “Sarah is disciplined and she gets a lot of rebounds by being in the right position.”
“It was an up and down game but we kept the lead late in the game and we stayed confident,” said Homan, the MAAC Rookie of the Week for all games December 29-January 4. “Getting the rebounds, especially on the offensive glass is like a turnover for the other team and then we get more touches and opportunities to score. To get the rebound on the offensive glass is good but you also have to finish and I've been working on the put backs in practice and that work has paid off.”
“Sarah was big for us,” said Sepulveda. “She got big rebounds when we needed her to.”
“Every game, Sarah is developing more and more,” Meyers added. “She is getting more confident and her wing span is incredible. Her presence altering shots has made our defense that much stronger.”
This was the 27th all-time meeting between Iona and Rider with the Gaels holding a 16-11 series lead. Iona defeated Rider in Lawrenceville 92-81 on December 5. Iona, a WNIT participant last season, split the two games with the Broncs in 2007-08.
This marks Rider's longest winning streak since the 1999-2000 season when the Broncs won four in a row, defeating Canisius, Marist, Siena and Manhattan.
“Last season (eight wins), the wins were so sporadic and we never got into a flow,” Milligan added. “Right now, we are playing with confidence. When you put games back to back, you expect to win the next one. It has taken a long time to have the kids believe that when you put the Rider uniform on, you expect to win and if it doesn't happen, you know you gave it the best that you had.”
“Confidence breeds success,” Sepulveda added. “As long as we have each others back, we are going to be fine.”
The Broncs host Canisius in a MAAC contest at noon on Friday, January 23, as part of the NCAA's Kids Day Out celebration in Alumni Gym. “All of the remaining games are big,” Milligan said. “We are expecting a large crowd Friday and we are at home so we want to do well in front of the fans that have supported us as we have turned things around.”
-RU-
