Women's College Basketball
Iona College 79, Rider University 43
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.--The Rider University women's basketball lost the regular season finale at Iona Sunday afternoon. "We weren't consistent on the offensive end at all today," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "We didn't get the shots that we wanted and that is a credit to Iona. They defended us very well."
For the Broncs, senior Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy/Hun) scored 12 points with freshman Dior Brown (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) adding a career-high 10 points while playing 30 minutes.
"Dior has been a spark for us," said Milligan. "Her work on defense created offensive opportunities for us and for her and she did a good job finishing plays. She took some good shots and listened to the adjustments that we wanted to make in the second half."
After a Sepulveda three-pointer cut the Gael lead to 16-12 at the 11:27 mark, Iona went on a 16-2 run before sophomore Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) converted a free throw with eight seconds left in the half. Homan finished with five points.
"We defended well in the opening half," Milligan said. "As we were getting stops, we stopped scoring and Iona hit a couple of threes to open it up at the break."
Iona led 32-15 at intermission.
Rider (4-25, 2-16 MAAC) opened the second half on a 3-0 run, two points by D. Brown, cutting the Gael lead to 13 with 19:05 left.
Iona responded with a 7-0 run to put the game away.
"Dior plays hard," Milligan added. "When she is between the lines, she plays hard and defense is something that she excels at and today she allowed used that effort to create offensive opportunities."
Each team had 34 rebounds however the Gaels caused 34 turnovers by Rider and had 17 steals in the game. Sepulveda, D. Brown and Homan each led Rider with five rebounds. "Iona is a very good defensive team," Milligan said. "They put a lot of pressure on the ball and we did not handle the pressure very well. We made some poor decisions offensively and got sloppy with the ball and it cost us."
This was the 29th meeting between Rider and Iona and the Gaels have won 18 including an 85-60 win on January 29 in Lawrenceville.
Rider plays in the opening round of the MAAC tournament against seventh seed Siena on Thursday at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York with the winner facing second seed Iona on Friday. The official conference pairings will be announced on Monday afternoon. Siena (10-17, 8-10 MAAC) lost at Loyola Maryland 68-50 on Sunday afternoon.
Rider lost at Siena (in Loudonville) 57-43 on January 24 and to the Saints in Lawrenceville 58-48 on February 26.
"I think it is good for us that we just played Siena two days ago," Milligan said. "It was a good game. Obviously our players will be familiar with their personnel and their sets. The adjustments that we need to make will be fresh in our minds for us to be more successful against them on Thursday afternoon."
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