Women's College Basketball
Siena College 53, Rider University 42
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.--Despite a career-high 17 points from sophomore Shereen Lightbourne (Elmsford, N.Y./Alexander Hamilton), the Rider University women's basketball team lost to Siena College in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game on UHY Court at Alumni Recreation Center Saturday afternoon.
"We need that type of effort from Shey," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "We have to combine that with Ali (Heller) shooting the ball well and getting touches inside for Caitlin (Bopp) and Sarah (Homan). If we get that consistent effort from Shereen every day, then we will have something offensively."
Trailing 4-3, Rider (0-14, 0-3 MAAC) went on a 10-0 run, four points by Lightbourne, taking a 13-4 lead with 8:46 left in the opening half.
Rider held the Saints to only four points in the first 11 minutes before an 8-0 run cut the Bronc lead to 13-12 with 5:28 left in the first period. Lightbourne hit a three-pointer to break the run, making it 16-12 Broncs. Lightbourne made three shots from three-point range in the game.
"We were on-point with our game plan defensively in the first half," Milligan said. "We did a nice job defensively and also working the ball around on the offensive end. But I was really happy with the defensive effort."
Leading 17-15, Rider used an 8-0 run, six points by junior Ali Heller (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews) on back to back three-pointers as Rider opened up its biggest lead of the game, 23-15 with 2:21 left before the half. Heller, who entered the game leading the nation in three-point field goal percentage, finished with those two from three-point range (eight points overall) and is 12 for her last 18 from long range over the four games.
Siena (5-8, 3-0 MAAC) closed the first period on an 8-0 run and the Broncs led 23-22 at intermission, only the second time this season that Rider has led at the half (at Bucknell November 12, 2010).
The Saints opened the second half scoring 12 of the first 16 points, taking a 34-27 lead with 13:49 left in the game, the sixth and final lead change of the contest.
"We had a couple of breakdowns defensively," added Milligan. "Then the ball started not dropping for us. We got some good looks in the last seven or eight minutes and they didn't fall for us."
Lightbourne and junior Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) hit shots as Rider scored four in a row, bringing the Broncs to within 34-31 with 12:39 left in the game. Homan finished with four points and six rebounds.
Siena responded with a 5-0 run to go up by eight (39-31) and the Saints pulled away, eventually opening up a 13 point lead with 3:55 left.
Freshman MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) led Rider with 12 rebounds as the Broncs out-rebounded the Saints 41-34, 14-8 on the offensive glass.
"We are young but we continue to work hard on the boards," Milligan said. "We are learning and we want to win, just like everyone else and we will keep working hard to accomplish that. On the offensive glass, we need to do a better job of taking advantage of our second opportunities."
Rider has lost 14 in a row this year and 18 straight dating back to last season. Siena has won four straight and the Saints are undefeated in conference play (3-0).
This was the 30th meeting all-time against Siena and Rider with the Saints winning 26.
"Even though Siena had dominated the series, we always seem to play low scoring, grinding it out types of games with them," Milligan added. "We weren't able to put enough points on the board today." Five of the last eight games against Siena have been decided by 11 points or less with two games going overtime.
The teams meet in Lawrenceville on February 14 at 7pm in Alumni Gym.
Rider opens a three-game home stand with a MAAC game against Canisius Monday night in Alumni Gym at 7pm. The Golden Griffins lost at Loyola Maryland 57-49 Saturday afternoon.
"Canisius is big, they have some good size and we will have to be ready for that," Milligan said. "I think it will be a good game for us and we will have to have another strong defensive effort to give us a chance to get one on Monday night."
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