Women's College Basketball
Siena College 58, Rider University 54
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
ALBANY, N.Y.?Despite 18 points and six rebounds from junior Tammy Meyers (Willingboro), the Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game against Siena at the Times Union Center Friday afternoon. “We had opportunities,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “We chipped away at the end and just ran out of time. We let one get away.”
Trailing by nine with 6:05 remaining in the game, Rider (2-12, 0-4 MAAC) went on a 7-0 run, four points by senior Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) to cut the Siena (3-10, 2-2 MAAC) lead to 56-54 with 24 seconds left but that was as close as the Broncs could get as the Saints hit two free throws for the final score.
The Broncs held Siena without a field goal for the final 6:29 of the game.
Parker, playing in her 100th career game, finished with 15 points and her six rebounds moved her into fifth place all-time at Rider with 667 rebounds, passing current Bronc assistant coach Pam Durkin who pulled down 662 boards from 1993-1997.
The game was seen nationally on ESPNU.
“Tammy did a great job for us and set the tone with her defensive effort,” Milligan said. “We needed that spark and that effort keyed our offense.” Meyers finished with a game-high three steals as Rider caused 17 Saint turnovers.
Despite opening the game scoreless for the first four minutes, Rider took a 12-6 lead with 13:24 left in the first half, five points by Meyers.
Siena responded with a 12-2 run, opening up a 22-14 lead six minutes before halftime.
Rider rebounded with a 9-0 run of its own, four points by sophomore Cintella Spotwood (Trenton/Trenton Central), taking a 23-22 lead and the Broncs led 26-25 at the half. Spotwood tied a career-high with 11 points, logging a career-high 30 minutes played. Spotwood also grabbed rebounds.
“Cintella gave us a great effort,” Milligan said. “It was good to see Cintella shoot the ball well.” Spotwood shot 50 percent (5-10) from the field.
This is only the fourth time that the Broncs have led at the half this season.
The game featured 10 ties and four lead changes including five ties and two lead changes in the first half.
Rider out-rebounded the Saints 37-30 including a 17-10 advantage on the offensive glass.
Junior Ashley Anderson (East Orange) tied for the team-high with six rebounds, collecting four on the offensive end.
The Saints were led by a 'double-double' from senior forward Heather Stec who finished with a career-high 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds. “Stec had a terrific second half (17 points) and that really hurt us,” Milligan said. “We didn't have an answer for her. She did a great job.”
Siena broke a three-game losing streak and Rider has lost 11 in a row.
The Saints lead the all-time series 21-4 with the teams splitting the last four meetings.
Last season, both games went into overtime with Rider winning in Loudonville, New York 77-73 and the Saints returning the favor 84-81 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
Rider travels to Manhattan on Sunday for a 2:00pm MAAC game.
“Manhattan has a good team,” Milligan said. “We need to rebound from today's game and learn from out mistakes and be ready to play on Sunday.”
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