Women's College Basketball
Iona College 71, Rider University 51
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University women's basketball team opened the game one for 20 from the field and could not recover, losing the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener to defending regular season champion Iona College on Friday evening in Alumni Gymnasium.

“This obviously wasn't the result we were looking for tonight,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “They (Iona) threw the first punch and we didn't respond.”

For Rider (2-5, 0-1 MAAC), freshman Kamila Hoskova (Czech Republic) came off the bench to score 12 points in 19 minutes of play.

“Kamila, that was a little taste of what she can do for us,” Milligan said.  “She just does what she is told and does it to the best of her ability.  She plays with confidence.  I'm thrilled with the way she is playing.”

Iona (3-4, 1-0 MAAC) was led by Damika Martinez who had 23 points, seven rebounds and four assists with Marina Lizarazu adding 21 points on eight for 10 shooting to go along with seven assists.

“Damika is a very, very good player,” Milligan said.  “But I thought Lizarazu was the difference in the game, getting to the basket.”

The Gaels were a force, out-shooting Rider 54 percent (28-52) to 25 percent (18-72).  The Broncs went 5-34 in the opening half (15 percent) from the field and in the game, Rider was 2-18 from three-point range (11 percent).

“We had good looks but they didn't drop,” Milligan said.  “We have to respond better on defense when the shots aren't dropping.”

Iona opened the game on an 8-0 run in the first four minutes before sophomore Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) got the Broncs on the board.  Perkins finished with 10 points, two offensive rebounds and two steals.

The Gaels then went on a 15-0 run, increasing their lead to 23-2 over the next six minutes and Iona led 36-12 at intermission.

Rider out-scored Iona 39-35 in the final 20 minutes with sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) compiling all eight of her points in the second half and she finished with 10 rebounds, four on the offensive glass.

The Broncs were out-rebounded 45-43 but held a 27-11 advantage on the offensive glass.

“I liked our fight in the second half,” Milligan added.  “27 offensive rebounds, that's hard work but we didn't reward ourselves very much after we got them.”

Tonight was the 39th meeting between Rider and Iona with the Gaels winning for the 25th time.  Last season, Iona was 26-6, one of the losses to Rider as the teams split the regular season series.  The Broncs won 92-90 in overtime in Alumni Gym behind a Rider record 37 points from senior MyNeshia McKenzie on February 6, 2014, snapping Iona's 18-game winning streak.

Rider travels to eight time defending MAAC tournament champion Marist College on Sunday for a 2pm game at McCann Arena, the fourth game in seven days for the Broncs.  “Marist is the defending champs,” Milligan said.  “It is always a great crowd and a fun game.  We are going to have to work hard in practice on Saturday to give ourselves an opportunity to beat them.  We can't put our heads down, we have to battle and find a solution.”

-RU-