Marist College 81, Rider University 56
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.?Despite 13 points from junior Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) and 12 points from junior Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun), the Rider University women's basketball team lost to Marist in the final game of the 2008-09 regular season, Saturday night. “We played hard and competed but it wasn't good enough tonight,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “We didn't play our best but I expect that we will rebound from it quickly.”
Marist (26-3, 16-2 MAAC) hit three field goals from three-point range to open the second half and used a 7-0 run to take a 17 point lead (47-30) with 15 minutes left in the game.
The Red Foxes were led by Rachele Fitz with 23 points and 12 rebounds with Julianne Viani adding 20 points and eight rebounds.
“We gave Viani a couple of open looks on the high ball screen to start the half,” said Milligan. “Marist is that type of team that you make a mistake, they make you pay.”
Rider cut the Marist lead to 14 with 7:30 left but could get no closer as the Red Foxes opened up a 30 point lead with a 25-11 run in the last five minutes of the game.
Also for the Broncs, senior Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) had a team-high 12 rebounds to go along with eight points.
Tied at 15, Marist went on a 14-4 run, opening up a 10 point lead with two minutes left in the opening period and the Red Foxes led 29-21 at the half.
“The last few minutes of first half hurt us,” Milligan said. “We played a pretty decent first half except for the last few minutes. We took away Marist's outside game and like a first place team will do, they adjusted and went inside and got us into foul trouble. When you are the best team in the league, those are the adjustments that you are supposed to make.”
Marist opened the game on an 8-0 run, holding Rider (10-19, 7-11 MAAC) scoreless for the first 5:40 of the game as the Broncs started 0-10 from the field.
“We had a tough shooting night,” Milligan said. “Hopefully it's out of our system as we head into the tournament. Marist makes you think about your shot and for the most part we got good looks but we had some indecision and when you think about your shot, you are going to struggle.”
Rider rebounded with a 15-7 run to tie the game at 15 with nine minutes left in the first half, seven points by Sepulveda as the Broncs made seven of 10 field goals during the stretch.
Marist out-rebounded the Broncs 44-32 and held a 14-6 advantage in second chance points.
The Red Foxes went 16-2 in conference play, winning the MAAC regular season title for the sixth straight season.
This was the 40th meeting between the former Northeast Conference rivals with Rider winning 13 times. Marist has defeated Rider 12 straight times with the last Bronc win over the Red Foxes on February 19, 2003. The Red Foxes defeated Rider earlier this season 69-45 in Lawrenceville on January 4.
Rider travels to Albany, New York for the MAAC Tournament on Thursday, March 5 when the seventh seeded Broncs take on 10th seed Niagara in the preliminary round at noon at the Times Union Center.
The winner will face second seed Canisius on Friday, March 6, also in Albany. The official MAAC pairings will be announced by the conference office on Monday.
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