Women's College Basketball
Saint Peter's University 50, Rider University 49
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference / hOURglass Rivalry Game

JERSEY CITY—Despite 13 points from sophomore Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic), the Rider University women's basketball team gave up a 13 point lead in the final 14 minutes and lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and hOURglass rivalry game at Saint Peter's University 50-49 on Friday afternoon.

“We didn't put things together and that caught up to us today,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.

Saint Peter's (1-10, 1-2 MAAC), on the strength of a 17-4 run, tied the game 47-47 with 2:04 left as Rider went 6:40 without a field goal.

“We struggled against their zone,” Milligan said about the scoring drought.

Senior Lashay Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) made a layup with 1:48 left to give Rider a 49-47 lead before a free throw, an offensive rebound off a free throw miss and two more free throws with 1:06 left by Rebecca Sparks made the score 50-49 Peacocks.  Sparks finished with 10 points, making six of seven from the free throw line.

After a Bronc miss, the Peacocks missed back to back one and one opportunities at the charity stripe and Rider had a chance to win it at the buzzer but a jumper in the lane was off the mark.

Banks finished with nine points and nine rebounds in 24 minutes of play.

Rider was out-rebounded 40-33, 15-11 on the offensive glass.

“When you give up rebounds in key situations, good things are not going to happen,” Milligan added.

Leading 33-30, Rider went on a 10-0 run, six points by junior Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) as the Broncs opened up their largest lead of the game, 43-30 with 14:00 left in the contest.  Rider held the Peacocks without a point for 5:41 during the run.

Fazzini finished with eight points, three steals and two assists in 21 minutes of play.

The teams opened the game matching each other basket for basket and the game was tied six times, including 12-12 with 13:32 left in the opening period.

Trailing 15-12, Rider (3-10, 0-3 MAAC) went on a 6-0 run, five points by Perkins as the Broncs took an 18-14 lead.

Leading 18-16, Perkins scored four straight points, pushing the Peacock deficit to six with 8:31 left in the opening period.

Saint Peter's tied the game, 22-22 on a 6-0 run with 5:18 left in the first half before the Broncs responded with seven straight points, four points by Kamila Hoskova (Czech Republic) and Rider led 29-22 with 3:29 left in period one.

Hoskova had four points and two rebounds in 14 minutes of play.

The Peacocks answered the deficit, scoring five straight points and Rider led 31-29 at intermission.

Also for the Broncs, sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) had 10 points and eight rebounds.

The teams meet in Lawrenceville on January 26 in Alumni Gymnasium.

Rider forced Saint Peter's into an 0-9 effort from three-point range but the Broncs also struggled from long distance, shooting 4-17 (24 percent).

Rider has lost three straight and the Peacocks snapped a 25-game losing streak dating back to last season.

The Broncs had won five straight in the series and the Peacocks improved to 43-14 all-time against Rider.

Rider has played 47 games decided by one-point since the 1977-78 season, winning 23 times.  Last season, Rider won 56-55 in Jersey City, giving up all but one point of a 17-point lead over the final 13 minutes.

Rider travels to Riverdale, New York to face Manhattan in a MAAC game on Sunday at 2pm.

-RU-