Marist College 69, Rider University 45
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LAWRENCEVILLE?Despite 13 points and a career-high nine rebounds from junior Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun) and 11 points from freshman Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian), the Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Marist Sunday afternoon before 1,111 fans in Alumni Gym. Sepulveda, who played all 40 minutes, dished out five assists.
“I thought our intensity would be a little bit better,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “We did a good job the first part of the game but not for the whole game and against Marist, really against anyone, you need a 40 minute effort.”
Homan, who shot a perfect five for five from the field, has had back to back double-digit games after scoring a career-high 14 points against UMBC at the Marriott Cavalier Classic on December 29.
“Sarah is doing exactly what we tell her to do,” Milligan said. “She is getting stronger and playing with more confidence. She is scoring on the block for us and we need to get her the basketball. She has had a tremendous advantage of working with Coach Rashana Barnes everyday and there's not a better ?post' coach around.”
“I love getting more playing time,'' said Homan "I want to get in the game. Coach Barnes has helped a lot. When I get in there I just want to work as hard as I can and see how much time I can get.''
The Broncs started off with a strong defensive effort, holding the Red Foxes to five points in the first 3:27 of the game however Marist (12-1, 3-0 MAAC) was stronger, holding Rider (2-10, 0-3 MAAC) without a point for the first 4:44 of the game.
“We did a nice job holding Marist to five points to start,” Milligan said. “Unfortunately, our kids focused on the fact that we didn't score. We were where we needed to be defensively but we got a little discouraged on the offensive end.”
Leading 9-6, Marist went on an 11-0 run, seven points by Julianne Viani as the Red Foxes led 20-6 nine minutes into the contest.
“We need to learn from our mistakes,” said Milligan. “We let our offensive struggles affect the rest of the game. Our shot selection was a little shady. The lack of discipline cost us.”
Viani led four Marist players in double-digits with 19 points, 17 in the first half.
“Marist did a good job doubling in the post and we didn't adjust to it very well,” Milligan added. “Marist delayed on the double team and sucked us into making some bad passes. As soon as we were ready to pass it, they were there to intercept it.”
The Red Foxes caused 18 Bronc turnovers, 10 coming off steals. Marist led 23-10 in points off of turnovers.
With six minutes left in the opening half, Sepulveda made a layup to cut the Red Fox lead to 12 before Marist responded with a 14-0 run, eight points by Viani, making the score 41-15 and the Red Foxes led 41-19 at intermission.
Marist maintained a 20-point lead throughout the second half.
Rider held Red Fox leading scorer Rachele Fitz to 12 points, 10 under her season average. Fitz entered the game eighth in the nation averaging 22.2 points per game. Fitz led Marist with nine rebounds. “We have to pull the positives out of today's game, no question,” Milligan said. “But with that said, we have to correct the negatives faster and learn from them quicker.”
This was the second straight game that Rider has held a nationally ranked scorer in check. The Broncs held UMBC's leading scorer Carlee Cassidy to 11 points on three for 13 shooting. Cassidy entered the December 29th game third in the nation averaging 24.0 points per game.
The Broncs out-rebounded the Red Foxes 44-41.
Marist has defeated Rider 11 straight times and leads the all-time series 26-13. The defending MAAC champion Red Foxes have won 24 straight regular season conference games and are currently receiving votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today top 25 polls.
“Marist is very solid,” said Milligan. “Viani and Fitz are two very good players but their whole team is solid. Their other players accept their roles and play very well and that makes them very successful.”
Marist has won nine in a row with Rider losing its ninth straight game.
The Broncs travel to cross-town rival Princeton on Tuesday night for a non-conference game at 7:00pm. “I expect a hard fought game on Tuesday,” Milligan said. “You have two teams that are struggling a little bit and we've had some battles the past. The team that works the hardest is going to win the game. We have to work harder, on a consistent level on a daily basis.”
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