Women's College Basketball
Rider University 59, LIU Brooklyn 56

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—For the second time in 48 hours, the Rider University women's basketball team won by a score of 59-56, defeating LIU Brooklyn on the road Tuesday evening.

“We knew tonight was going to be a tough game,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “We did enough to win but we also made some uncharacteristic and undisciplined mistakes, especially in the second half.”

Winners of two straight, Rider (2-4) was led by 14 points from sophomore Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) and 13 points from senior Lashay Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter).

Leading 26-23, Rider scored 12 of the first 20 points of the second half, increasing its lead to 38-31 with 13:37 left in the game.

Back to back jumpers from Perkins gave Rider as 46-38 lead with 8:40 left in the game.  Perkins added two rebounds, two steals and a block in 24 minutes.

LIU cut the Bronc lead to 52-49 with 5:00 left but Rider scored four in a row to push the lead back to seven with sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) getting a key offensive rebound and put back, one of five offensive rebounds in the final five minutes of the game.  Duggan finished with seven points and 12 rebounds, two steals and an assist in 26 minutes.

“We could have opened up the lead more but we made some mistakes,” Milligan added.  “We were fouling a good shooting free throw team and we were fortunate that they missed a few down the stretch.”

Each team made 19 free throws with Rider attempting 29 and LIU Brooklyn attempting 26.

“We let them (LIU) on the line way too much and put ourselves in some tough spots down the stretch,” Milligan added.  “When we had to make a play, we did.  It was ugly at times but we came out on the right side of it.  We need to do little things better, when to go for a steal or when to just play tough on defense.”

Each team had eight steals in the contest.

“LIU Brooklyn plays a tough style,” Milligan added.  “They use all 94 feet and you have to be ready at all times.  They made us play faster than we wanted and that took us into some of those undisciplined plays we talked about.”

Trailing 59-56, LIU (0-5) had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but a desperation three-pointer fell short.

In the opening half, both teams struggled from the floor, going a combined one for nine before freshman Jessie Wallace (Reading, Pa./Wilson) broke a 2-2 tie with a layup at the 15:43 mark of the opening half.  Wallace played 19 minutes and added three rebounds.

Tied 6-6, LIU went on a 5-0 run before Rider responded with a 10-0 run, seven points by Banks as Rider led 16-11 with 8:40 left in the opening half.  Banks added five rebounds and a block in 21 minutes, shooting six for nine from the floor.

Banks had 21 points in the win over LIU Brooklyn last season in Lawrenceville.

Tied 23-23, Rider hit three of four free throws in the final minute and the Broncs went into intermission leading 26-23.

Rider out-shot LIU Brooklyn 42 percent (20-48) to 16-59 (27 percent).  The Broncs struggled again from long distance, going 0-8 from three-point range.

Rider committed 22 turnovers to 20 for LIU Brooklyn and there were 51 fouls in the game, 25 by the Broncs.

Rider leads the all-time series 17-2 and the Broncs have won 13 in a row over the Blackbirds.

Rider hosts Iona College in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game on Friday at 7pm in Alumni Gymnasium.

“It is important to win games on the road,” Milligan added.  “I learned in the last two games that this team has grit and that is a good attribute going forward as we head into conference play.”

-RU-