Women's College Basketball
Rider University 65, Monmouth University 55
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

WEST LONG BRANCH—Led by a career-high 25 points from senior Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), the Rider University women's basketball team won its second game in a row, defeating Monmouth University 65-55 on Friday evening in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and hOURglass rivalry game.

“This was a hard fought battle,” said head coach Lynn Milligan. “Getting a road win in the MAAC in February is terrific.”

Leading 47-44 with 12:02 left in the game, Rider (9-16, 6-9 MAAC) broke the game open with a 16-3 run, six points by junior Manon Pellet (Marseille, France) and five points by Fazzini and as the Broncs pushed the lead to 63-47 with 2:30 remaining.

Pellet finished with seven points in 29 minutes.

“Our defense spurs the offense,” Milligan said.  “When we get stops and can stay in flow on the offensive end, we are a good basketball team.  Emily was terrific, seniors in February, I say it all the time that you have to count on them.  They get that little sense of urgency in their belly.”

“I don't feel any extra pressure,” Fazzini said.  “It is exactly the opposite; I've been able to just relax and play.”

The Hawks ended the game on an 8-2 run for the final score.

Trailing 9-4, Rider used a 15-2 run, five points by sophomore Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) and four points by senior Lashay Banks (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) to take a 19-11 lead with10:34 left in the opening half.  Perkins had Rider's first nine points in the game.

“That's been Robin's 'MO' lately, getting us off to good starts,” Milligan said.  “It's good for her and gets her going in the right direction.”

Perkins finished with 11 points in 18 minutes of play with Banks scoring eight points and pulling four rebounds off the bench.

Trailing 27-22, Monmouth (9-15, 5-10 MAAC) used a 4-0 run to cut the deficit to one with 3:30 left in the opening period and the teams went into the locker room with Rider leading 33-30.

“I thought we did a good job in the first half but we bailed Monmouth out with a few too many fouls.  We adjusted a lot better in the final 20 minutes.”

Rider avenged a 66-62 loss to Monmouth in Lawrenceville on January 8.  Rider has won four of the last five and five of the last seven against the Hawks.

Rider was out-rebounded 46-39 but out-shot the Hawks 40 percent (24-60) to 34 percent (20-59).

Led by four three-pointers from Fazzini, Rider was 6-12 from long distance in the game, compared to Monmouth which went 1-12.

Rider hosts Manhattan College in a MAAC game on Sunday at 1pm as the Broncs celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

-RU-