Women's College Basketball
Rider University 56, Siena College 49
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.—The Rider University women's basketball team won for the third time in four games, scoring a 56-49 victory at Siena College on Wednesday afternoon in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.

“We've been struggling on offense but when you defend, you have a chance to win,” said head coach Lynn Milligan who has seen her squad hold the opposition to under 50 points in three of the last five games.  “We gave up some easy buckets in the opening half but tightened that down in the final 20 minutes.”

For Rider (6-14, 3-7 MAAC), senior Lashay Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) had 13 points off the bench, including 12 in the opening half.  Banks added three steals and two blocks in 28 minutes of play.

“Lashay played with a hop in her step,” Milligan said.  “That was good to see.  These last couple of games, she has really given us a spark off the bench.  She shot the ball with confidence and is taking good shots.”

“I was just looking to come in and rebound and work to get some open looks for my teammates,” Banks said.  “I was looking at the post and at the top of the key.  When I did that, I saw that I was open and was able to knock down those shots.”

Banks finished six for nine from the field.

“I just look to rebound and get us second chance opportunities,” Banks said.  “That opens the floor up for my teammates.  I've never really looked at myself as that 'energy person' but I've embraced that role and I make sure I bring that effort every day.”

Leading 26-25, Rider went on a 6-0 run, two points each by junior Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) and junior Manon Pellet (Marseille, France) as the Broncs pushed the lead to seven with 17:10 left in the game.

Rider played all but the first 54 seconds of the opening half without Duggan, its leading rebounder, who committed two early fouls.  Limited to 17 minutes of play, Duggan finished with six points and three rebounds. 

Pellet finished with seven points, two assists, a steal and a rebound in 17 minutes with Fazzini adding two points and two rebounds in 24 minutes.

Leading 33-30, Rider used a 12-5 run to break the game open, with six players hitting the scoring column as the Broncs led by 10 with 8:33 left in the second half.

“Having six players in that final run, that's the true definition of a team effort,” Milligan said.  “Ten of 11 players who played scored; that's an impressive stat.”

Siena (12-8, 5-6 MAAC) cut the Bronc lead to five twice, the last time with 1:50 remaining but the Saints could get no closer as Rider made six foul shots down the stretch to seal the victory.

Tied 17-17, Rider pushed its lead to five (26-21) on the strength of a 9-4 run, four points by Banks with 1:36 left in the first half.

Rider led 26-23 at intermission, shooting 50 percent (12-24) from the field.

Trailing 14-11, Rider went on a 6-0 run, four points by freshman C'quoya Haughton (Schenectady, N.Y./Stoneleigh Burnham Prep) as the Broncs took a 17-14 lead with 10:43 left in the opening half.  Playing only 20 minutes from home, Haughton finished with those four points in six minutes off the bench.

“C'quoya had some great minutes,” Milligan said.  “All the players who came off the bench did a great job when the starters weren't in an early flow.”

Siena jumped out to a 7-2 lead, four points by Tehresa Coles.  Coles had 11 points, six steals and five rebounds.  The Saints were led by 12 points from Ida Krogh.

Rider held Siena to 28 percent shooting from the field (17-60) including 2-14 from three-point range (14 percent).  The Broncs shot 21-48 (44 percent).

Siena out-rebounded Rider 38-36 including 19-10 on the offensive glass.

Also for the Broncs, senior Marritta Gillcrease (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional) had seven points, 13 rebounds (four on the offensive glass) and five blocked shots in 26 minutes of play.

The Broncs had a season-high 10 blocks in the game.  “That's how we play and who we are,” Milligan added.

Rider has only nine wins all-time against Siena but the Broncs have won five straight over the Saints covering the past three seasons.  The teams meet again in Lawrenceville on February 5 at 5pm, in a contest on ESPN 3.

Over 2,100 fans packed UHY Court at the Alumni Recreation Center as Rider and Siena celebrated an NCAA Kid's Day Out game.  Kid's Day is a national marketing initiative to expose elementary and middle school aged children to collegiate athletics and women's basketball.

The Broncs host Canisius on Sunday at 2pm.

-RU-