Women's College Basketball
Saint Peter's College 62, Rider University 49
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LAWRENCEVILLE--Despite 17 points from sophomore Shereen Lightbourne (Elmsford, N.Y./Alexander Hamilton), the Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Saint Peter's Thursday evening at the Yanitelli Center.
Trailing 8-7, Rider (4-24, 4-13 MAAC) used a layup by Lightbourne and two free throws from junior Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) to take an 11-8 lead six minutes into the game. Homan finished with 10 points and four rebounds.
The Peahens responded with a 7-0 run, all seven points by Jynae Judson who finished with 16 points and Saint Peter's led 15-11 with 11:06 left in the first half.
Tied at 17, Saint Peter's (4-24, 4-13 MAAC) scored nine of the next 11 points, four points by Aminah Davis and the Peahens led 26-19 with 2:02 left in the opening period. Those were the only points for Davis on the night.
Trailing 28-20, Lightbourne hit a three-pointer with 43 seconds left in the half and Rider went into intermission trailing 28-23.
Rider committed 25 turnovers, 15 in the first half.
"We obviously turned over the ball too much tonight," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "We got some good looks but didn't get enough of them."
Freshman MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) hit a three-pointer with 17:52 left that brought the Broncs within five (33-28) before the Peahens responded with a 7-2 run, opening up a 10 point lead with 14:04 left. McKenzie, a two-time MAAC Rookie of the Week honoree and MAAC All-Rookie team candidate, finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Leading 42-35, Saint Peter's used a 9-2 run to open up a 14-point lead (51-37) with 10:10 left.
The Broncs used a late 10-2 run, three points by Lightbourne to get within six (53-47) at the four minute mark before four free throws at end clinched the game for the Peahens.
The game featured four ties and three lead changes, all in the first half.
Saint Peter's was led by Aziza May who had 19 points, playing all 40 minutes.
The Broncs held a 34-28 advantage on the boards, led by sophomore Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame) who finished with 13 rebounds to go along with eight points. Bopp now has 463 boards in her career, 16th best all-time at Rider.
"We rebounded well but it just came down to us not making enough shots tonight," Milligan said. "Making only four of 19 attempts from three when Saint Peter's is playing zone is not getting it done. The effort was there but we didn't make shots and didn't get stops when we needed them. We are struggling with some indecision right now."
This was the 48th meeting between Rider and Saint Peter's with the Peahens winning 39 times. Rider won in Lawrenceville 70-69 on January 15 in overtime to split the season series.
With Canisius defeating Niagara earlier this evening, Rider and Saint Peter's will meet for the second time in seven days in the 8/9 game at the 2011 Spark Energy MAAC Basketball tournament on March 3 at 2pm. That game will take place at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Rider concludes the regular season with an MSG television game against Niagara at 11:30am on Sunday. The Broncs won at Niagara on February 18 in triple overtime by a 79-73 score.
"We want to finish with the highest seed that we can," Milligan said. "It is important for us to refocus and take positive steps forward in preparing to play next week and that starts with Sunday's game."
-RU-
