Women's College Basketball
Rider University 62, LIU Brooklyn 48
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ— A bank statement is a summary of transactions or deals which have occurred over a given period of time. On Thursday night Rider junior Lashay Banks (Philadelphia, PA/Prep Charter) made a statement, and was dealing over a 40 minute period of time.
Banks compiled a career-high 21 points and a career-high eight rebounds to lead Rider to victory over LIU Brooklyn in the home opener Thursday night.
“That's what we expect of her,” said Rider head coach Lynn Milligan, “and that's what she expects from herself.”
A transfer from Cincinnati, Banks has not played since the 2011-12 season, sitting out last year due to transfer rules. “She works her tail off every day,” Milligan said. “She was a real presence on the floor tonight. It took her some time this year. She hasn't played in almost two years.”
“It was an adjustment,” Banks said. “I'm just getting used to playing 35 minutes.”
Rider junior Marritta Gillcrease (Pittsburgh, PA/Perry) added a career-high 10 points and a career-high nine rebounds. “Rita got two offensive rebounds down the stretch that were huge,” Milligan said.
Holding a 44-39 lead, Rider went on an 14-4 run, six points by senior MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield-Delco), to take a 58-43 lead with 2:56 left to play. McKenzie finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
The 'double-double' for McKenzie is the third of the season in as many games, her sixth straight and the 29th of her career. “MyNeshia started to heat up late in the second half,” Milligan said of her All-MAAC performer, who had 16 second-half points.
Rider (1-2) led 25-15 at the half, 10 points by Banks.
Trailing 35-19, LIU Brooklyn (0-2) went on an 18-6 run, seven points by Cleandra Roberts, to cut the lead to four, 41-37, with 10:38 left to play. Roberts finished with 16 points and 16 rebounds. “We had some ups and downs,” Banks said, “but we got back to it.”
“We had our hiccups, we had our droughts,” Milligan said, “but then we answered.”
Rider jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first 5:10 of the game, eight points by Banks. “Lashay got us going to start the game,” Milligan said. “She made those first few shots and just ran with it.”
The victory is Rider's fourth in the last seven home openers and the first win of the season. “The first one is always the toughest,” Milligan said. “You have to get that first one so you can exhale a little bit.”
Rider and LIU Brooklyn have now met 18 times, with Rider holding a 16-2 advantage in the series that began in 1981-82. Rider has now won the last 12 meetings.
The athletics departments of Rider University and LIU Brooklyn share a common figure, Hall of Fame coach Clair Bee, who founded Rider varsity athletics in 1929 and won National Basketball Championships at LIU.
In addition to his coaching and basketball innovations (invented the shot clock, three-second rule and 1-3-1 zone), Bee was an accomplished author, penning the popular Chip Hilton series. One of the titles in the 24-book series was named Triple Threat Trouble.
With McKenzie, Banks and Gillcrease, the Broncs provided Triple Threat Trouble to LIU Brooklyn Thursday night.
Rider hosts cross-town rival Princeton November 19. “We got this win under our belts so tomorrow going into practice we can take a little breath before getting back to it,” Banks said.
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