Women's College Basketball
Fairfield University 64, Rider University 51
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
FAIRFIELD, Conn.--Freshman MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) had 16 points, 14 in the second half and added seven rebounds as the Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Fairfield Sunday afternoon.
"The effort was there but we are capable of more," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "It was a good effort but not good enough. At this point of the year, we need to take bigger steps."
Rider (2-19, 2-8 MAAC) opened the scoring on a layup by junior Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) before the Stags responded with a 12-1 run, six points by Katelyn Linney taking a 12-3 lead with 12:28 left in the opening half. Homan finished with 11 points and five rebounds for Rider.
The Broncs opened play shooting one for nine from the field and after Homan's layup, were held without a field goal for 8:20.
Trailing 12-3, Rider went on a 5-0 run, three points by junior Ali Heller (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews) to get within four with 10:57 left in first period. Heller, who leads the nation in three-point field goal percentage (.517), finished with seven points, going two for two from long range.
Leading 16-12, Fairfield (14-6, 7-3 MAAC) ended the half on a 13-5 run, with five points coming from Linney, as the Stags led 29-17 at intermission. Linney finished with 17 points, 11 coming in the opening half.
"Fairfield is a good team and I thought we defended their sets pretty well," Milligan said. "Linney shot the ball really well for them."
Rider caused 16 turnovers by the Stags, converting those into 11 points.
Two free throws and a jumper by sophomore Shereen Lightbourne (Elmsford, N.Y./Alexander Hamilton) cut the Fairfield lead to 11 (34-23) and Heller hit her second three-pointer of the game to get Rider within 10 (36-26) with 16:16 left in the game. Lightbourne had 11 points and was a perfect five for five from the free throw line.
Ahead 38-28, Fairfield pulled away, scoring nine of the next 12 points and the Stags eventually led by 18 (62-44) with 2:23 left.
This was the 30th meeting all-time between Rider and Fairfield with the Stags winning 27 times including the last three in a row.
Fairfield visits Alumni Gym in Lawrenceville for the return game on February 12 at 2pm.
The Stags have won four in a row, while Rider has dropped four straight.
The Broncs played without leading rebounder sophomore Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame) who became ill prior to the game. With sophomore Dior Brown (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) having season ending shoulder surgery this past Friday, the Broncs were only able to dress nine players.
Fairfield held a 33-28 advantage on the boards and entered play as the leading defensive team in the nation (47.9 ppg.). "Fairfield got some tough baskets on the boards in the game and really battled us on the glass," Milligan added.
Fairfield shot 50 percent for the game (24-48) and held the Broncs to 18-48 (37.5 percent) from the field. "Our field goal percentage has been ok the last few games," Milligan said. "We just have to work on getting more shots overall."
Rider travels to Loyola Maryland for a MAAC game on February 4 at 7pm. The Greyhounds improved to 8-2 in the MAAC with a 71-65 win at Canisius Sunday afternoon. Loyola defeated Rider on January 4 by a 68-59 score in Lawrenceville.
"Loyola is having an unbelievable season and they are playing very well," Milligan said. "They have three guards that can score and we are going to have to slow them down and challenge one of their other players to put the ball in the basket."
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