Women's College Basketball
Marist College 60, Rider University 46
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.—Despite 10 points and four rebounds from sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City), the Rider University women's basketball team lost to eight-time defending champion Marist College on Sunday afternoon in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.

Duggan was limited to 16 minutes due to early foul trouble.

Rider (2-6, 0-2 MAAC) played strong on defense, holding the Red Foxes to only 60 points, 27 in the second half but the Broncs continued to struggle on the offensive end of the court, shooting 16-59 (27 percent).

“Defensively I thought we did a good job,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “We followed the game plan and were solid on that end of the court.  We gave up about eight to 10 points in transition that we would like to have back.  Beyond that we held solid.”

Marist (3-5, 2-0 MAAC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Duggan put the Broncs on the board with a jumper, three minutes into the game.

“Julia was limited due to foul trouble,” Milligan said.  “She obviously took advantage in the time she was on the floor.  We got her some good touches on the block and she also rebounded the ball.”

The Red Foxes responded with a 9-0 run, opening up a 13-2 lead seven minutes into the contest before a three-pointer by junior Taylor Wentzel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) cut the Red Fox lead to eight with 12:30 left in the first half.  Wentzel finished with six points in 12 minutes off the bench.

Freshman Jessie Wallace (Reading, Pa./Wilson) hit a three-pointer to get Rider to within five (15-10) with 11 minutes to go in the first half.  Wallace finished with seven points and six rebounds, playing 17 minutes.

After a three-pointer by Bronc junior Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) made the score 19-13, Marist held Rider to no field goals and only three throws over an eight minute span, pushing the lead to 33-16.  Fazzini finished with five points and six rebounds in 27 minutes on two for 12 shooting.

Rider shot 6-20 from long distance (30 percent).

“We are going to get back in the gym and do what we do and stay with the process,” Milligan added about working through the offensive struggles.

Freshman C'quoya Haughton (Schenectady, N.Y./Stoneleigh Burnham Prep) hit a jumper with two seconds left in the first half to bring Rider to within 33-18 at intermission.

Trailing 37-22, senior Kornelija Valiuskyte (Siauliai, Lithuania) hit a three-pointer and Fazzini followed with a layup to bring Rider to within 10 (37-27), six minutes into the second half but a 5-0 Red Fox run pushed the deficit back to 15.  Valiuskyte finished with those three points and added two assists and a steal in 20 minutes of play.

Wentzel hit a three-pointer to again bring Rider to within 10 (42--32) with 11:58 left in the game but the Broncs could get no closer as the Red Foxes responded with a 9-2 run, pushing their lead back to 17.

Marist was led by Tori Jarosz who had 17 points, six rebounds, three blocks, two steals and an assist in 18 minutes off the bench.

“Jarosz is an all-conference type of player,” Milligan said.  “They got her the ball in some really comfortable spots.”

The Broncs were out-rebounded 42-33 but for the second game in a row, Rider held the edge on the offensive glass 11-10.

This was Marist's 24th straight win in the series and the Red Foxes lead the overall series 39-13.  Last season, Marist knocked Rider out of the conference semifinals, 70-59 enroute to the MAAC Title.

This was Rider's fourth game in eight days and the Broncs are in the midst of an 11 game stretch of road contests in 14 games to begin the season.

After a week off for exams, Rider returns to play on December 14 at Penn State with the game tipping off at 2:30pm.

“We are going to need another solid effort defensively at Penn State to be successful,” Milligan said.

-RU-