Women's College Basketball
Siena College 67, Rider University 56
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LAWRENCEVILLE--The Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Siena Sunday afternoon.
The victory marked the ninth straight time Siena defeated the Broncs.
Holding a 46-45 lead, Siena (5-12, 3-5 MAAC) went on a 6-0 run, all six by junior forward Lily Grenci, to take a 52-45 lead with 5:09 left to play. Grenci, who is averaging 15.1 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, finished with 24 points and nine rebounds.
Rider (10-9, 2-6 MAAC) freshman Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) made two foul shots with 10:38 remaining to give Rider its first and only lead of the game, 40-39.
Fazzini finished with a career-high 18 points along with six rebounds in 36 minutes of play.
"Emily is going to play hard every second of every game," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "That is something you can count on from her. It was good to see her step up and make some shots."
Rider out-scored Siena 12-4 to start the second half, four points each by junior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) and Fazzini, to tie the score at 36-36 with 14:12 left to play.
Bopp finished with nine points, five rebounds and two blocks in 28 minutes of action.
Trailing 26-13, Rider went on an 8-2 run, three points by junior Sironda Chambers (Newark, Del.), to cut the lead to 28-21, and Siena led 32-24 at the half. Chambers finished with 14 points to go along with three steals and an assist in 35 minutes.
Siena jumped out to a 15-7 lead, eight points by Grenci. "We needed to start the game off better offensively," Milligan said. "Then you gain confidence as the game goes along."
Calra Sole Anglada added 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Saints.
Christina Centeno added 13 points and six rebounds for Siena.
The Saints out-shot Rider 44 percent to 36 percent and held a 42-28 advantage on the boards.
"We are a better rebounding team than we showed," Milligan said. "We have to find our way and be confident about what we are doing."
Rider has lost four straight after opening the season 10-5 and Siena snapped a two-game losing streak.
The teams meet again in Loudonville on February 19. Siena leads the all-time series 28-4.
Rider travels to Western New York to take on Niagara Friday and Canisius Sunday.
"It's a tough road trip but we are looking forward to getting back out on the road," Milligan added. "We are going to tighten some things up in practice this week and the intent is to go up there and take both games."
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