Women's College Basketball
Siena College 61, Rider University 42
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.--The Rider University women's basketball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Siena on Sunday afternoon.
Rider (11-16, 3-13 MAAC) was led by freshman Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) who had nine points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in 36 minutes.
Siena was led by Lily Grenci with 16 points.
Trailing 32-30, Siena (10-15, 8-8 MAAC) went on a 20-0 run, six points by Kate Zarotney as the Saints retook the lead 50-32 with 8:48 left in the game. Zarotney had eight points, shooting four for four from the field.
"We just didn't have it today," said head coach Lynn Milligan. "We struggled physically and mentally and when that happened, we lost our fundamentals. During that run, I felt that we were chasing them. They threw a punch and we didn't respond. To Siena's credit, they stepped up and made some shots."
Rider scored six of the first eight points of the second half, four points by junior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame) as the Broncs took their first lead of the game, 30-28 with 18:04 left in the second half. Bopp finished with seven points and five rebounds.
Siena jumped out to a 9-2 lead 4:04 into the game, five points by Maja Gerlyng. Gerlyng finished with 13 points.
Senior Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa./Delco Christian) hit a jumper and Fazzini hit a three-pointer as Rider went on a 7-2 run, cutting the Saint lead to 14-9 with 13:18 left in the opening half. Homan finished with six points and two rebounds off the bench.
Siena scored six of the next eight points, opening up a 20-11 lead before sophomore MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) hit a layup, cutting the Saint lead to seven, 11:50 before the half. McKenzie had eight points, four rebounds and two steals, playing 30 minutes.
Trailing 24-16, Rider finished the half on an 8-2 run, three points by Fazzini, cutting the Saint lead to 26-24 at intermission.
Also for the Broncs, junior Carleigh Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./ Nazareth Academy) had six points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal.
Siena held a 36-30 advantage on the glass and the Saints caused 23 Bronc turnovers with Siena compiling 14 steals.
Siena out-shot Rider 39 percent to 36 percent and the Saints were a perfect 11 for 11 from the free throw line.
"I'm disappointed," added Milligan. "Coming off our win Friday (80-76 vs. Iona), I expected that we would be tougher, both physically and mentally."
The Saints lead the all-time series 29-4 with Siena sweeping the season series after defeating the Broncs 67-56 on January 22, 2012 in Lawrenceville. The Saints have defeated Rider 10 straight times.
Rider travels to Jersey City for a MAAC game at Saint Peter's on Friday, February 24 at 5:30pm.
-RU-
