Women's College Basketball - Hawk Classic
Central Michigan University 76, Rider University 58

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Despite 21 points from junior Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) and a 'double-double' of 10 points and 10 rebounds from junior Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City), the Rider University women's basketball team lost in the semifinals of the Saint Joseph's Hawk Classic 76-58 to Central Michigan on Monday afternoon on Hawk Hill.

Duggan has seven career 'double-doubles' including three this season.

Trailing 7-6, Central Michigan (6-4) used a 6-0 run to gain a 12-7 advantage with 6:06 left in the opening quarter.  The Chippewas opened the game six for six from the field.

The Chippewa defense held the Broncs without a field goal for over six minutes until a layup by junior Yeliz Dogan (Ismir, Turkey) tied the game 14-14 at the end of the opening 10 minutes.

Dogan finished with those two points and added two rebounds and a steal in 19 minutes.

The leading scorer in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Perkins hit four free throws in the opening quarter and finished the game 12-15 from the charity stripe while contributing five rebounds, three steals and two assists in 30 minutes.

Leading 16-14, the Chippewas opened the second period on a 9-2 run and CMU led 29-18 with 6:15 left in the opening half.

“The second quarter, the defense let us down,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “The bottom line is we didn't score today.  We need to find the right mix to be more aggressive with the basketball.  We are passing up a lot of shots and are hesitant.”

A three-pointer by sophomore Kamila Hoskova (Czech Republic) cut the Bronc deficit to 10 before Central Michigan ended the half on a 5-0 run to lead 44-29 at intermission.  CMU shot 62 percent (18-29) in the opening 20 minutes of play.

Hoskova was three for three from long distance in the opening half and she finished the game with 11 points in a career-high 26 minutes off the bench.

“I thought Kam and 'LP' (Lexi Posset) gave us great minutes off the bench,” Milligan said.

Playing 13 minutes off the bench, the freshman Posset (Pittsburgh, Pa./Beaver Area) had six points.

Rider's defense held CMU to only nine points in the third quarter but the Bronc offense could only score 13 in the period, including seven free throws and two layups by Perkins (11 points) and the Broncs trailed 53-42 after three quarters.

“Robin has a scorer's mentality and is capable of getting to the free throw line,” said Milligan.  “We need to find her some consistent help.”

Rider (3-7) got to within 69-55 with 2:36 left before a 7-0 run pushed the Bronc deficit to 21 points with 58 seconds remaining.

CMU was led by 20 points from Da'Jourie Turner, one of four Chippewas in double-digits.

Rider was out-rebounded 40-37 but the Broncs held a 14-2 advantage on the offensive glass, led by four offensive boards from Duggan.

Rider was held to 27 percent shooting (19-70) with CMU shooting 49 percent (25-51) for the game and the Chippewas were 20-23 (87 percent) from the charity stripe.

Rider forced 23 turnovers but committed 17.

Also for Rider, senior Manon Pellet (Marseille, France), playing in her 100th game as a Bronc, had three assists to move into 13th place all-time at Rider with 270.

This was the first meeting between Rider and Central Michigan in women's basketball.

In the opening semifinal, the host Hawks of Saint Joseph's led 38-9 after the opening quarter and cruised to a 104-45 victory over the Retrievers of UMBC to earn a spot in the championship game on Tuesday.

Rider will face UMBC in a rematch of a game on November 21, won by UMBC 58-53 in Baltimore.  In that game, Rider led by 14 points late in the third period before UMBC out-scored the Broncs 19-5 in the final quarter.

-RU-