Women's College Basketball
Fairfield University 43, Rider University 40
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

BRIDGEPORT, Conn.—The Rider University women's basketball team had its two game winning streak snapped at Fairfield, losing to the Stags 43-40 at Webster Bank Arena in a game seen on ESPN 3.

“Offensively we didn't make enough shots, it was really that simple,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “I thought the defensive effort was excellent.  This was a typical Rider-Fairfield game; in the 40s and and it went down to the last possession.”

Rider (5-14, 2-7 MAAC) was led by nine points from senior Marritta Gillcrease (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional).

Tied 40-40, Kelsey Carey hit a jumper for the Stags with 3:34 left in the game and Felicia DaCruz hit one of two free throws with 17 seconds remaining for the final score.  Carey had 16 points for the Stags with DaCruz adding three points, three rebounds and three assists.

Rider went the last 3:56 of the game without a point and the Broncs were held to only 13 second half points on 6 for 27 shooting.

“I thought Fairfield's zone in the second half was good,” Milligan said.  “Some of the looks we were getting in the first half we weren't getting in the second and that's something we need to work on.”

The Broncs led 29-22 before Fairfield went into the lead 34-33 with 10:23 left in the game on the strength of a 12-4 run.

Trailing 9-4, Rider took a 12-9 lead midway through the opening half with an 8-0 run, four points by junior Manon Pellet (Marseille, France).  Pellet finished with those four points to go along with four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 32 minutes.

Leading 12-11, Rider scored the next nine points, five points by senior Lashay Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) as the Broncs posted their largest lead of the game, 21-11 with 5:49 left in the first period.  Banks finished with those five points and added a career-high 10 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.

Rider led 27-20 at intermission.

Also for Fairfield, Casey Smith had 16 points.

Rider and Fairfield met 11 days ago (January 11) in Alumni Gymnasium with the Stags using a late 12-0 run to win 59-47.  The teams met three times last season with the Stags taking the regular season series and Rider scoring a 63-56 win in the MAAC quarterfinals.

Rider was out-shot 40 percent (18-45) to 30 percent (15-50).

The Broncs held a 36-33 rebounding advantage.

Both teams went 0-6 from three-point range.

Also for Rider, sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) had eight points and six rebounds in 34 minutes.

The game was seen on ESPN 3, the first of two games for Rider on that network.

This was the 40th meeting in the series with Fairfield winning for the 34th time.

Rider hosts Saint Peter's University on Monday night at 7pm.

-RU-