Women's College Basketball
Rider University 69, Fairleigh Dickinson University 68
LAWRENCEVILLE--The great escape and the Broncs will take it.
The Rider University women's basketball team won its fourth game in a row with a come from behind 69-68 win against Fairleigh Dickinson University Thursday evening at Alumni Gymnasium.
Trailing 68-67, senior Ali Heller (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews) made two free throws with 28.9 seconds remaining for the final score, the 11th and final lead change of the game. Heller led Rider (7-3) with 14 points.
"My head was pretty clear," Heller said about heading to the line with the game on the line. "I thought it was pretty funny that FDU tried to ice me by calling timeout after I made the first foul shot."
Heller was nine for 10 from the free throw line in the game after coming in to the contest nine for 11 from the charity stripe in the first nine games of the season.
"I like to shoot the ball," Heller, one of the top three-point threats in the nation said. "When that isn't working, I have to find a way to get other things done and tonight it happened to be creating contact and getting to the free throw line by taking it to the basket."
FDU (4-8) had three chances in the final 12 seconds to win the game but missed a jumper, layup and a three-pointer from the left corner at the buzzer.
"It was a game of runs and we didn't play one of our better games of the year," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "FDU is very good and threw everything at us. The game came down to one stop and we found a way to get it done."
Trailing 66-61 with 3:11 remaining, Rider went on a 6-0 run, including a bank shot three-pointer from the right wing by senior Alyssa Parsons (Ivyland, Pa./Archbishop Wood) as the Broncs took the lead 67-66 with 1:36 left.
"Alyssa's shot was gigantic," said Milligan.
With FDU leading 55-49, Rider used an 8-0 run, four points each by Heller and junior Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) as the Broncs went ahead 57-55 with 8:35 left in the game. Homan finished with seven points and six rebounds.
"It's a great quality for a team to have a 'refuse to lose attitude'," Milligan said about her squad. "This was a game that a lot of things didn't go our way but we felt that we would win the game. We just seem to have players that make that happen day in and day out."
FDU led 38-36 and used a 5-0 run to open its largest lead of the game, 43-36 with 14:32 left in the second half.
Trailing 19-11, Rider went on a 14-0 run, five points by Heller, holding the Knights without a field goal for over eight minutes as the Broncs took a 25-19 lead with 3:29 remaining in the opening half.
FDU rallied to tie the game at 25 before two free throws by sophomore MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) put the Broncs in the lead 30-28 at intermission. McKenzie finished with six points and tied a career-high with 15 rebounds to go along with two blocks, an assist and a steal in 35 minutes. McKenzie's block with six seconds left denied the Knights on the second of three shots in the final 11 seconds.
Also for the Broncs, junior Sironda Chambers (Newark, Del./Harcum College) had 13 points, going six for six from the free throw line.
Rider attempted 33 free throws in the game, making 26 with FDU going eight for 11 from the charity stripe.
The Broncs struggled from the field, opening the game two for 12 and finished the night shooting only 35 percent (20-58), including three for 12 from long distance. FDU shot 43 percent (29-67).
"When the ball isn't going in the basket, you have to find other ways to score," Milligan said. "We continued to attack and got to the free throw line and that's what really won us the game."
Mariyah Laury had a game-high 23 points for FDU including 16 in the first half, shooting 10 for 20 from the field.
The Knights out-rebounded the Broncs 42-39, including 16-15 on the offensive glass.
This was the 22nd meeting between the former Northeast Conference rivals with Rider winning for the 13th time.
Rider has won four straight, its longest winning streak since the 2009-10 season.
"This was a good challenge on our home floor, right before break," Milligan said about the Broncs improving to 4-1 in Alumni Gym. "I'm very pleased with the test that we passed tonight."
The Broncs improved to 7-3. Rider last opened a season winning seven of 10 during the 1977-78 campaign.
"I told the team after the game to be proud of what we have done," Milligan added. "I also reminded them that we really haven't accomplished anything yet and that the Mount St. Mary's game is next and then the conference schedule. Our start is a bunch of positive steps that we are looking to continue."
"It feels good to see our hard work paying off," Heller added. "We stay focused each day and really try to keep the big picture in mind."
Rider is now 22-19 since 1977-78 in games decided by one point including 4-3 in five seasons under Milligan and the Broncs have won four of their last five games decided by the slimmest of margins.
Rider defeated Saint Peter's 70-69 in overtime on January 15, 2011, also in Alumni Gym and also on a free throw by Heller as she broke a 69-69 tie with three seconds left.
Rider travels to Emmitsburg, Maryland to face Mount St. Mary's on December 29 at 7pm.
"Mount St. Mary's is a tough team," Milligan said. "We are going to have to be ready. They are playing terrific basketball; they are undefeated at home and shoot the ball very well."
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