Women's College Basketball
Rider University 61, Niagara University 56
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

LAWRENCEVILLE—Behind 17 points from junior Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and nine points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks from senior Marritta Gillcrease (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional), the Rider University women's basketball team snapped a six-game losing streak, defeating Niagara University 61-56 on Friday evening in Alumni Gymnasium.

“I thought it was a well played game by both teams,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “Defensively we really clamped down a high powered offense that has some great players.  Rita did a great job.  Whenever they thought they had an open look, she was really the difference maker tonight.  When your team is struggling, it is a senior captain's job to find a way to get the team to win and she did that.”

“The coaches challenged me after the Fairfield loss,” Gillcrease said.  “I just worked hard tonight to set screens and use my body and I got myself in a good position to get some blocks and that got us fired up.”

Tied 33-33 with 18:36 remaining in the game, Rider (4-13, 1-6 MAAC) out-scored Niagara (7-9, 3-4 MAAC) 12-4, four points by sophomore Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) as the Broncs pushed their lead to eight with 10:30 remaining in the game.

Perkins finished with 13 points and three steals in 32 minutes of play.

Trailing by 10 with 1:15 remaining, Niagara took advantage of the Broncs making only two of five free throws to cut Rider's lead to 57-55 with 29 seconds left.

“Every MAAC game is a battle,” Milligan said.  “You have to be prepared.  We probably did 20 special situations this week and I think it helped our demeanor at the end of the game when the lead got down to two.  We didn't panic tonight and did a good job regrouping when things didn't go the way we needed it to.”

Fazzini and sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) were four for four from the charity stripe in the final 28 seconds to secure Rider's first win since December 18 when the Broncs defeated Maryland Baltimore County.

Duggan played 30 minutes and finished with seven points and eight rebounds.

Rider went 17-28 from the free throw line.

Rider is now 3-5 in games decided by five points or less this season.

Niagara was led by Meghan McGuinness who finished with 18 points but only had six in the final 20 minutes.

Trailing 2-0, Niagara went on a 7-0 run to take a five point lead with 16:08 left in the opening half.

Trailing 9-4, Rider tied the game 11-11 with 13:12 left in period one, using a 7-2 run, three points each by Fazzini and freshman Kamila Hoskova (Czech Republic).  Playing seven minutes, Hoskova had five points off the bench.

Niagara led 21-16 before Rider went on a 10-2 run, three points by Perkins as the Broncs retook the lead, 26-23 with 7:16 left in the first half.

After Rider pushed the lead to five, Niagara responded with a 5-0 run to tie the score 29-29 with 3:10 left in the period and the teams went into intermission tied at 31-31.

Rider out-shot Niagara 34 percent (20-59) to 31 percent (23-73) with the Purple Eagles notching 17 assists on their 23 made baskets.

Niagara out-rebounded Rider 55-42, 25-15 on the offensive glass.

Rider and Niagara have met 40 times with the Broncs winning 17.

The teams split the season series last season with each winning on their home court.  The rematch is February 22 at Niagara.

Rider travels to Iona on Sunday for a 2pm MAAC game in New Rochelle, New York.

-RU-