Women's College Basketball
#20 Georgetown University 58, Rider University 51
WASHINGTON, D.C.--The 20th ranked Georgetown Hoyas improved to 7-2 on the season with a come from behind non-conference win over Rider University on Sunday afternoon at McDonough Arena.
"We came in with a good game plan," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "I'm proud of the team. We executed a full 40-minute effort. Everyone was on the same page and played hard. We just came up a little short."
For Rider (3-3), junior Sironda Chambers (Newark, Del./Harcum College) scored a team-high 20 points with sophomore MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) adding 16 points and 13 rebounds for her third 'double-double' of the season and eighth of her career. McKenzie also had two blocks in the game.
"Mac battled for us," Milligan said. "She was going up against players that were 6-2 and 6-6 the entire day. She battled for us on the glass and brought her game to the outside a bit and made some good shots."
Sugar Rodgers scored four points to break a 40-40 tie and put Georgetown ahead to stay and a three-pointer by Alexa Roche gave Georgetown a 51-42 lead with 4:50 left. Rodgers finished with a game-high 21 points with Roche adding five points and six rebounds for the Hoyas.
The Hoyas took a 40-39 lead on a Rodgers layup, the eighth and final lead change of the game before McKenzie hit one of two free throws to tie the score at 40 with 8:27 left. Rider was 11 for 17 from the free throw line and Georgetown was 11-19 from the charity stripe.
Rider led 37-25 with 17:55 left in the game before Georgetown used an 11-0 run over the next six minutes to get within one (37-36) at the 12:02 mark.
"The difference in the second half was that we committed more fouls," Milligan said. "Georgetown had a couple three-point plays and they were really aggressive getting to the basket. That allowed them to get into their press a lot quicker and that really caused us to stop scoring and stalled the offense."
A jumper by McKenzie broke a five minute scoring drought and gave Rider a 39-36 lead with 11:27 left.
Rider trailed 5-2 two minutes into the game before going on a 6-0 run, two points each by Chambers, junior Carleigh Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) and freshman Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), giving the Broncs an 8-5 lead at the 16:34 mark of the opening half.
Carleigh Brown had six points and six rebounds with Fazzini adding eight points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes.
The Hoyas responded with a 5-0 run to take a 10-8 lead five minutes into the game.
Two baskets by McKenzie and two layups by Chambers put Rider ahead 16-14, nine minutes into the contest.
Rider opened the game, making eight of 10 from the field, including three for three from McKenzie. McKenzie finished seven of 14 from the field.
"When you start out getting a few stops and then make your first couple shots, you start gaining confidence," Milligan said. "We needed to get off to a strong start and we did that today. Our team really stepped up and played hard."
Chambers hit a three-pointer and senior Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) made one of two from the free throw line to gave Rider its biggest lead of the half (24-19) with 4:15 left before intermission. Homan had two rebounds, an assist and three blocks in 21 minutes.
Rider led 29-24 at the half behind 16 points from Chambers. Chambers also had five rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in 34 minutes.
"Sironda really attacked the rim," Milligan said. "She finished some really tough shots and had an air of confidence about her today. She carried us through the first half and got us going."
The Broncs shot 48 percent (11-23) from the field in the opening 20 minutes.
Rider opened the second half on an 8-1 run, including two three-pointers by Fazzini as the Broncs led 37-25 with 17:55 left.
"For Emily, it is getting her feet set, having her teammates find her and having her feel good about her shot," Milligan said. "She had a good effort. She didn't play with any fear against a big-time opponent."
The Hoyas took 18 more shots from the field than Rider but made only three more in the game as the Broncs out-shot Georgetown 38 to 32 percent.
Rider was held to a season-low 22 points in the second half.
The Hoyas caused 23 Bronc turnovers and out-rebounded Rider 41-40, 21-14 on the offensive glass.
Georgetown held Rider's leading three-point weapon, senior Ali Heller (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews) scoreless as Heller was 0-8 from the field and 0-7 from three-point range. Heller entered the week 10th in the nation in three-point field goal percentage.
This is the second season in a row that Rider gave the Hoyas a run for their money. Last season, the then 11th ranked Hoyas saw themselves locked in a 28-28 battle late in the first half before coming out ahead 81-54 in Lawrenceville on December 11, 2010.
Georgetown has won six straight.
Rider returns home to host Stony Brook on Tuesday night at 7pm in Alumni Gymnasium on the Lawrenceville campus.
"This one does hurt a bit," Milligan said. "Taking nothing away from Georgetown, we feel that we let an opportunity slip. The best thing is that we get right back to practice Monday. Stony Brook is going to be a tough opponent and we will have to be ready."
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