LAWRENCEVILLE--In every story, you have a beginning and an end and if you come to Alumni Gymnasium this weekend, you will see those story lines come full circle.
The Rider University women's basketball season opens against Lafayette and Bucknell Friday night and Sunday afternoon while the Bronc volleyball team wraps up their 2011 campaign with Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference matches against Niagara and Canisius Saturday and Sunday.
The women's basketball team hits the court on Friday night at 7pm, taking on Lafayette. The Broncs have 10 returning letterwinners and four returning starters, led by senior guard
Also leading the Broncs into action is sophomore MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) who averaged 8.2 ppg., and 7.3 rpg., while earning a spot on the MAAC All-Rookie team, the third season in a row that a Rider player has earned All-Rookie honors. McKenzie is coming off a 'double-double' in Rider's exhibition against West Chester on Sunday.
Giving Rider a deep threat is senior Ali Heller (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews) who was 10th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage as a junior, earning the MAAC 6th Player of the Year award.
Rider was picked to finish eighth in the MAAC in the preseason coaches' poll.
Former East Coast Conference rivals, Rider and Lafayette last met on November 29, 2001 when the Leopards won 75-72. Lafayette has won 20 of the 28 games in the series.
Lafayette returns eight letterwinners and two starters and also has the sister of Rider senior Sarah Homan (freshman Emily Homan) on the roster. The Leopards are picked to finish sixth in the Patriot League.
The Bison open up with a MAAC weekend, taking on Saint Peter's at 7pm Friday night before traveling to Lawrenceville for the 4pm Sunday afternoon game.
Bucknell is picked to finish fourth in the Patriot League and the Bison return eight letterwinners including four starters. Another former East Coast Conference rival, Rider and Bucknell met to open last season with the Bison winning 53-48, despite 14 points from Heller. Bucknell has won 15 of the 23 games all-time in the series.
The 2011 volleyball season comes to an end with MAAC matches against Niagara (Saturday, 1pm) and Canisius (Sunday, noon).
Niagara comes into Alumni Gym 15-1 in the MAAC (21-8 overall) and the Purple Eagles are the defending conference champions. Canisius, which plays at Loyola on Saturday, enters the weekend 13-14, 8-8 in the MAAC. Rider lost to the Golden Griffins 3-1 on October 15 in Buffalo.
Prior to the match, Rider will honor its lone graduating senior Camellia Kuban (Swedesboro/Gloucester Catholic).
All basketball games and volleyball matches will be streamed on BroncVision, the pay per view video stream of Rider Athletics. The basketball games will also feature audio with Jeff Nolan, Alex Cohen and Dick Wiseman bringing you all of the action. Sunday's basketball game can also be heard on 107.7 FM The Bronc, the flagship station for Rider basketball.
Free livestats will be available for all events this weekend and for all home basketball events in 2011-12.
The Broncs are hoping for a storybook weekend with a positive beginning to the 2011-12 basketball season and a happy ending for the Rider volleyball squad which wraps up its 2011 season.
-RU-
