Canisius College 71, Rider University 59
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LAWRENCEVILLE?Despite 21 points from junior Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun), the Rider University women's basketball team has its four-game winning streak snapped as Canisius College defeated the Broncs on Friday afternoon in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game. "Overall I was pleased with the game," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "We just could not get over the hump. Defensively the adjustments we made at half time were successful. The problem was in the first half we were trading 3's for 2's."
Trailing 57-45, Rider (6-13, 3-5 MAAC) out-scored Canisius (14-5, 6-2 MAAC) 10-3, four points by Sepulveda, to cut the lead to 60-55 with six minutes left, but that was as close as the Broncs could get. Sepulveda finished two off her career high.
"Amanda has really stepped up her game and leadership over the past few weeks," Milligan said. "She is being more aggressive and assertive with her play and she is having more success."
Holding a 60-55 lead, Canisius out-scored Rider 9-4 over the final six minutes, four points each by Brittane Russell and Marie Warner, for the final score. Russell finished with 14 points while Warner led the Golden Griffins with 24 points.
Canisius led 44-32 before Rider went on a 14-6 run, six points by Sepulveda, to cut the lead to 50-45 with 12:39 left to play.
Holding a 28-27 lead, Canisius out-scored Rider 12-4 over the final five minutes of the first half, five points by Russell and four by Warner, to take a 40-31 lead at half time.
Trailing 17-11, Rider went on an 8-2 run, four points by junior Stephanie Wisniewski (Levittown, Pa./Villa Joseph Marie), to tie the score at 19-19 with 11:20 remaining in the first half. Wisniewski finished with four points.
Also for the Broncs, senior Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, her fourth ?double-double' of the season and the 13th of her career. Parker has 710 rebounds, fourth highest all-time at Rider.
Junior Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) had 10 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
Rider never led in the game.
We played catch up all game,” said Milligan. “We haven't done that over this streak. We played down and that hurt us and we didn't respond well to being down.”
Canisius leads the all-time series 21-5 and have won 17 straight against the Broncs.
The Golden Griffins have made a three-pointer in an NCAA record 440 straight games after making nine from long distance against Rider.
The two teams square off again in Buffalo, New York on February 1.
The game saw over 1,000 fans as part of the NCAA Kid's Day Out initiative, exposing kids in grades three to five to a college or University at an early age.
"We had an unbelievable atmosphere at the game," Milligan added. "The kids were terrific and really gave our team a boost."
Rider hosts Siena in a MAAC-game on Sunday at 2:00pm in Alumni Gym on the Lawrenceville, New Jersey campus. Prior to the game, over 20 alumni of the women's basketball program will take part in a game with a reception following the Saints, Rider matchup.
Sunday (Siena) is a big day for us,” Milligan said. “We need to prove that we can win after a loss. We have to know that and come on the court expecting to win.”
