Women's College Basketball
Loyola Maryland 55, Rider University 43
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
BALTIMORE, Md.-The Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Loyola University Maryland Friday evening, despite 14 points from sophomore Shereen Lightbourne (Elmsford, N.Y./Alexander Hamilton).
"Shereen did a good job and she got a lot of good looks at the basket," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "We ran a lot of ball screens for her and she did a good job coming off them to get open looks. She put herself in successful situations."
Loyola jumped out to a 13-4 lead before junior Ali Heller (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews) hit a three pointer to bring Rider (2-20, 2-9 MAAC) to within six at the 10:50 mark. Heller, who leads the nation in three-point shooting, finished with six points in 28 minutes off the bench.
"We started off and missed some shots early," said Milligan. "We got some good looks but didn't make them. Loyola got to some loose balls and it really was their second chance opportunities that cost us in the opening half."
Rider sophomore Carleigh Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) played the first eight minutes before leaving the game with a shoulder injury with the Broncs finishing the game with nine healthy players.
"Losing Carleigh got us out of our flow in what we've been working on the last few days," Milligan said. "That got us a little out of sync."
Leading 16-9, the Greyhounds went on a 9-0 run to lead 25-9 with 5:07 left in the first half and Loyola led 33-16 at the half.
Trailing 55-30, Rider ended the game on a 13-0 run, four points by Baltimore native Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) and three by Lightbourne for the final score. Bopp finished with six points and nine rebounds before fouling out.
This was the 37th meeting between Rider and Loyola with the 'Hounds winning 29 times including a 68-59 win in Alumni Gym on January 4, 2011.
The Broncs have lost five straight.
"We are working to take steps each game," Milligan added. "We know adversity happens but when the other team comes after you with that first punch, you have to respond and it's not going to get any easier. Every team goes through injuries and we have to keep on fighting. We have to be better and work harder."
Rider hosts Iona on Sunday at 1pm as part of National Girls and Women in Sports Day. The Gaels defeated Rider 92-61 in New Rochelle, New York on January 21.
"Iona is a veteran team and are very talented," Milligan said. "We didn't put our best foot forward last time we played them and coming home, with a good crowd in Alumni Gym, we want to turn things around and give our fans a good game. We are shorthanded but we have to be mentally and physically ready and I expect that we will be."
The Gaels are 5-6 in the MAAC after losing at home to Fairfield 67-63 Friday night.
-RU-
