Women's College Basketball
Saint Peter's College 74, Rider University 63
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
JERSEY CITY?Despite 19 points from junior Tammy Meyers (Willingboro), the Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Saint Peter's Sunday afternoon. “We came into a hostile environment and we thought we were prepared,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “Obviously we weren't and we have to figure that out.”
Trailing by 13, 49-36 with 12:59 left in the game, Rider (8-16, 5-8 MAAC) went on a 13-4 run, six points by Meyers and four points by senior Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) getting to within four with seven minutes left but that was as close as the Broncs could get as Saint Peter's (9-13, 6-7 MAAC) responded with a 10-1 run to put the game out of reach.
Parker had her 15th career ?double-double' and sixth of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds with Meyers finishing one off her career-high with seven assists.
“Tammy did a good job in spurts,” Milligan said. “On some of the decision making we just didn't get into a flow.”
Leading by two with 18:45 left in the game, Saint Peter's held Rider without a point for over four minutes, going on an 8-0 run to open up a 44-34 lead with 15:11 left in the game.
“Saint Peter's makes you play faster than you want,” Milligan said. “We had a couple of good runs but we weren't able to sustain anything. I'm disappointed with the overall effort and the things that we didn't do today. We have to regroup and get back on track. You can lose a game and out work your opponent. We got out worked and that's disappointing.”
Saint Peter's was led by freshman Sakara House with 16 points and junior Alena Ali who had 15 points, all in the first half.
Trailing 10-8, Rider went on a 7-0 run, three points by junior Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun) to take its biggest lead of the game, 15-10 with 13:38 left in the opening period. Sepulveda finished with 11 points and four rebounds.
The Peahens responded with a 10-1 run making the score 20-16 Saint Peter's with 8:23 left in the first half and the Peahens led 35-32 at halftime.
The game saw five ties and seven lead changes, all in the first half.
Each team made 22 field goals with Rider committing 29 fouls, leading to 37 free throw attempts by the Peahens. “It wasn't a surprise what Saint Peter's did today,” Milligan said. “They are a good team and we got out worked and out toughed.”
Saint Peter's has won three in a row with Rider losing its second straight. “An 0-2 weekend in February can cost you down the road,” Milligan added.
This was the 43rd meeting between the teams with Saint Peter's winning 36 including the last eight in a row over the Broncs.
The teams will meet again on February 21 in Lawrenceville.
Rider hosts Manhattan on Friday in a MAAC game at Trenton's Sovereign Bank Arena.
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