Women's College Basketball
Siena College 70, Rider University 56
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LAWRENCEVILLE?Despite 16 points from junior Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun) and 14 points from junior Tammy Meyers (Willingboro), the Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Siena on Sunday afternoon. “I'm pleased with the effort,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “We just had too many missed box outs and way too many turnovers.”
Rider had 21 turnovers in the game, and seven in its first nine possessions.
“Our turnovers are taking away opportunities for us to shoot the ball,” Milligan added. “And missed box outs are giving our opponents easier opportunities on the offensive glass.”
Trailing 29-17 with one minute remaining in the first half, Rider (6-14, 3-6 MAAC) used a 16-4 run, eight points by Sepulveda to tie the score at 33 with 15:56 left in the game.
Sepulveda also had five assists in 38 minutes before fouling out.
“When we tied it up, our aggression I think got the better of us,” Milligan said. “We got Siena to the line way too early in the second half.” The Saints went 22 of 30 from the line, attempting 25 free throws in the second half. Rider attempted 14 (making 10) from the foul line the entire game.
With the score tied at 35, Siena (7-11, 6-3 MAAC) rallied with an 18-6 run opening up a 12-point lead with 9:20 remaining. The Broncs had two chances to take the lead prior to the Saint run, missing two free throws and a layup. “We had some untimely misses today,” Milligan said. “We just didn't get into any type of flow on the offensive end.”
Rider cut the Saint lead to nine at 65-56 with 1:16 left but that was a close as the Broncs could get.
Trailing 2-0, Siena used a 9-0 run to take an early seven point lead five minutes into the contest.
Trailing by 13 with 8:33 left before the half, the Broncs used a 7-0 run, four points by Meyers to get back into the game with Siena leading 29-21 at half time.
Meyers added six rebounds and three steals on the day.
Also for the Broncs, freshman Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) 12 points, two off her career-high to go along with five rebounds and three blocked shots.
Siena has won 22 of the 26 games all-time against Rider. The Saints defeated the Broncs 58-54, 16 days ago in Albany, New York with the two teams splitting two overtime games last season.
After winning four in a row, the Broncs have now lost two straight.
The game was Alumni Day in Alumni Gym with almost 50 Rider women's basketball grads coming back for a pickup game and the Rider-Siena matchup. “It was great to reconnect with so many familiar faces,” said Milligan, herself a Rider grad from 1992 and 1994. “They are giving us great support and the current players really appreciate all that they do for the program.”
Rider makes its annual trip to Western, New York to face Niagara, Friday night at 7:00pm and Canisius, Sunday afternoon at 2:00pm.
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