Women's College Basketball
Canisius College 60, Rider University 54
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
BUFFALO, N.Y.--Bronc sophomore MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) had a game-high 16 points and added nine rebounds as the Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Canisius College Sunday afternoon.
"This was a solid effort," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "This was a well played game by both teams."
Trailing 47-37, Rider went on a 9-0 run, four points by McKenzie, cutting the Golden Griffin lead to one with 2:19 left in the game but that was as close as the Broncs would get. Canisius hit two three-pointers and went five for six from the free throw line in the last 49 seconds to seal the victory. The Golden Griffs had 10 three-pointers in the game.
"Their kids stepped up and hit two huge three pointers at the end," Milligan said. "We responded and executed and cut into the lead but for every two pointer that we made, Canisius made a three and that was the difference. We got the looks we wanted and needed to do a better job at the end getting a stop."
Rider made 22 field goals to 20 for Canisius in the game.
Leading 36-35, Canisius went on an 11-2 run, including a three-pointer by Courtney VandeBovenkamp as the Golden Griffins opened up a 47-37 lead with 6:21 left in the game. VandeBovenkamp was one of five Golden Griffs scoring in double-digits and she finished with 11 points.
Trailing 23-21, Rider opened the second half on a 6-0 run, two points each by junior Carleigh Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy), junior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. Of Notre Dame) and McKenzie as the Broncs took a 27-23 with 17:10 left in the game. C. Brown finished with seven points, eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 29 minutes with Bopp adding eight points and four rebounds in 27 minutes.
Canisius responded, scoring 10 of the next 12 points, seven points by Ashley Wilkes as the Golden Griffins went ahead 33-29 with 13:59 left, the sixth and final lead change of the game. Wilkes and Kayla Hoohuli each had 13 points for Canisius.
Freshman Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and freshman Kornelija Valiuskyte (Siauliai Lithuania/The Rock School) each hit a three-pointer, bringing the Broncs to within one (36-35) 7:49 into the second half. Fazzini finished with nine points, five rebounds and two steals with Valiuskyte adding three points and two assists.
Back to back three-pointers by McKenzie gave Rider (10-11, 2-8 MAAC) a 6-5 lead four minutes into the contest.
Canisius (10-11, 4-6 MAAC) responded with a 5-0 run as the Golden Griffins took an 11-6 lead with 14:29 left in the opening half.
Leading 11-9, the Golden Griffins scored five straight, opening up a seven-point lead 10:36 into the game.
Two free throws by senior Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) got the Broncs to within three before Jen Morabito nailed a three-pointer as Canisius led 19-13 with 7:21 left before the half. Homan had seven points and three rebounds for Rider with Morabito adding 11 points and five rebounds for the Golden Griffs.
Baskets by Bopp, C. Brown and Fazzini led Rider to a 6-0 run as the Broncs tied the game at 21 with 1:51 left in the opening half.
The Golden Griffins ended the opening period with two free throws and Canisius led 23-21 at intermission.
Also for Rider, senior Alyssa Parsons (Ivyland, Pa./Archbishop Wood) finished with four points, three rebounds, six assists and two steals.
"Alyssa ran the team today the way a senior point guard is supposed to," said Milligan. "She setup her teammates and we are going to win games in the month of February if she plays the way she did today. We need our seniors to step up and Alyssa did that."
Also for Canisius, Ashley Durham had 10 points and tied a career-high with nine assists.
Canisius had 17 assists on 20 made baskets with Rider recording 15 assists on 22 made baskets. Each team attempted 21 three-pointers with the Broncs connecting four times from long distance.
Canisius out-shot Rider 37 to 36 percent and out-rebounded the Broncs 39-38 with Rider holding a 15-13 advantage on the offensive glass.
"I was happy with our rebounding," Milligan said. "There was definitely a sense of urgency on the glass. That helped us and gave us some more opportunities, especially on the offensive end. And I was happy with the defensive effort as well. The intensity on the defensive end is the best I've seen in the last six games."
The Golden Griffins lead the all-time series 25-7 and Canisius is 14-2 against Rider all-time at the Koessler Athletic Center. The teams split two games last season with each team winning on its home court. The teams meet again in Lawrenceville on February 10 in Alumni Gymnasium.
Rider has lost six straight and the Golden Griffins have won two in a row.
The Broncs return to action for their third of four straight games on the road against Fairfield at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Connecticut on February 2 at 7pm.
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