Women's College Basketball
Rider University 60, Niagara University 53
LAWRENCEVILLE--Sophomore MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) compiled 11 points and 14 rebounds to lead Rider to a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference win over Niagara Wednesday night.
"Every now and then you have a game like that," said head coach Lynn Milligan about an evening that saw both teams shoot 31 percent from the field and combine for 34 turnovers and 43 fouls. "When that happens, you have to find a way to win and we did that tonight. We are not pleased with how we played but we are certainly pleased that we got the win and played well down the stretch. This was a hard fought battle."
Trailing 45-43, Rider (9-4, 1-1 MAAC) out-scored Niagara 11-5, four points by junior Sironda Chambers (Newark, Del.), to take a 54-50 lead with 2:42 left to play. A lay-up by junior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) with 39 seconds left gave Rider a 56-53 lead.
"I'm happy that we found a way to get it done," Milligan said. "With two more tough home games coming up, it was important that we got the win tonight, especially after losing at Manhattan on Monday."
The game featured 10 ties and six lead changes.
Bopp finished with 10 points, four rebounds and three steals in 22 minutes off the bench, while Chambers added eight points and five rebounds.
"I was trying to hustle and box out without committing any more fouls," Bopp said about the adjustment that she made at halftime after being whistled twice for infractions. "I was just trying to be aggressive and make things happen."
Trailing 34-30, Rider out-scored Niagara (4-10, 1-1 MAAC) 10-4, four points by Bopp, to take a 40-38 lead mid-way through the second half.
Niagara scored the final six points of the first half to cut the Rider lead to 25-23, and scored the first five points of the second half to take its first lead of the game, 28-25, with 16:51 left.
With the score tied at 15, Rider went on a 10-2 run, four points by junior Carleigh Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy), to take a 25-17 lead with 3:52 left in the first half. Brown finished with 11 points and three rebounds.
The victory was the ninth of the season for Rider. The last time Rider had nine wins the Broncs were 9-18 toward the end of the 2008-09 season.
The 9-4 start is the best for Rider since beginning the 1993-94 season 11-2.
"We have an older and more mature team," Milligan said. "We understand the sense of urgency that we have to play with everyday and we need to do that a little more consistently than we did tonight."
The 'double-double' for McKenzie was her sixth of the season and 11th of her career.
The Rider Athlete of the Month for December, McKenzie leads the MAAC in rebounding and is 22nd in the nation, averaging 10.5 per game. McKenzie leads Rider in scoring at 11.4 points per game.
"I really credit the coaches with making me concentrate on making the next play for the team if the last play didn't go our way," McKenzie said. "If I mess up, I just have to learn from it and focus on making something positive happen and tonight was an example of that."
Rider freshman Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), the MAAC Rookie of the Week in early December, made two foul shots with 24 seconds left to give Rider a 58-53 lead. Fazzini made all five of her foul shots and finished with eight points while adding three rebounds and three assists.
Rider and Niagara have now met 33 times since the series began in 1986-87, with the Broncs winning 15. Rider beat Niagara 62-56 in Lawrenceville and the Broncs won a 79-73 triple overtime thriller at Niagara to sweep the season series last year and Rider has now won three in a row over the Purple Eagles.
For Niagara, Kayla Stroman, a preseason All-MAAC selection this year despite playing just eight games last season, led all scorers with 17 points. Stroman was the MAAC Rookie of the Year in 2009-10.
The teams meet again at Niagara on January 27.
Rider attempted 35 free throws, making 27.
"We got to the foul line and made our free throws," Milligan said. "Grind it out games are part of the MAAC and we need to find a way to bring our 'A' game every night."
The Broncs are home again Saturday, hosting defending conference champion Marist at 2pm. The Red Foxes improved to 2-0 in conference play with a 69-57 win over Canisius on Wednesday evening.
"This is the toughest week for all of the teams in the conference," Milligan said. "We have to take advantage of the Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, Monday stretch because we are home for three of the four games including three in a row. We found a way to get the job done tonight and we will get right back to work to prepare for Marist on Saturday. The Red Foxes are the best team in the conference until someone proves otherwise."
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