Women's College Basketball
Rider University 65, Manhattan College 40
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

LAWRENCEVILLE—Led by 22 points from senior Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll), the Rider University women's basketball team sent Manhattan College to its 11th loss in a row, winning 65-40 on Sunday afternoon in Alumni Gymnasium.

“This was a solid defensive performance today,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “Especially in the opening half, we took a lot of Manhattan's easy looks away and overall, our ball movement was solid.”

Fazzini recorded her second 20+ point game in a row, shooting 8-10 from the field and finished with two assists, two rebounds and a steal in 28 minutes, allowing Rider (10-16, 7-9 MAAC) to record its third win in a row.

“It's setting in that it is my senior year,” said Fazzini who scored a career-high 25 points two days ago at Monmouth.  “I just want to go out there and leave it all on the floor.”

“When Emily is in her routine for shooting, she is as good of a shooter that you will see,” Milligan said.  “She is finding herself some open looks against the defense and is ready to shoot by moving without the ball.”

This was Rider's sixth game in the last 15 days with the Broncs 4-2 over that stretch.

“When things are going good, it is nice for that quick turnaround,” Fazzini added.

Also for the Broncs, senior Marritta Gillcrease (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional) had a career-high 12 points to go along with four blocks and three steals in 31 minutes with junior Manon Pellet (Marseille, France) tying a career-high with 10 assists as Rider had 21 assists on 26 field goals.

“Marritta was involved everywhere,” Milligan said.  “She always puts herself in good positions and her hands were extremely active.  She also knocked down some good shots offensively.  And Manon, all she wants to do is put her teammates in the best possible situation.  Her pace is terrific right now and we are doing a better job making shots which pushes her assist total up.”

Rider jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the opening 2:11 of the game, three points by sophomore Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) and two each from Gillcrease, Fazzini and Pellet.

Perkins finished with 11 points, five assists, three steals and a block in 22 minutes.

Leading 19-11, Rider held the Jasper offense off the board for 10:52 , pushing the lead to 18 with a 10-0 run, eight points by Fazzini and the Broncs went into the locker room leading 31-13.

“That defensive effort set the tone,” Milligan said.  “Rita (Gillcrease) really sets the tone and our switches and our communication is better as well.”

The 13 points in a half was the best effort by the Bronc defense since allowing seven points against Bucknell University on November 13, 2011.  Rider also held Monmouth University to a 13 point half on November 19, 2009.

Leading 33-19, Rider out-scored Manhattan (2-22, 1-14 MAAC) 13-2, seven points by Fazzini to put the game away as the Broncs led 46-21 with 8:52 left in the contest.

Rider out-shot Manhattan 53 percent (26-49) to 29 percent (13-45) and the Broncs made eight three pointers.

Rider held a 30-28 rebounding advantage and the Broncs took advantage of 27 Jasper turnovers to record a 19-0 advantage on fast break points and a 26-10 advantage in points off of turnovers.

This is the fourth time this season and 25th time under Milligan that Rider has held a team to under 50 points.

Manhattan was led by Kayla Grimme who recorded 10 points and six rebounds.

The Broncs avenged a loss at Manhattan on January 4 by a 55-52 score to split the season series.  The teams also split last season with each team winning on the road.  This is Rider's 12th win in 40 tries over the Jaspers.  This is Rider's largest margin of victory since winning by 17 points at Manhattan last season.

After opening MAAC play 0-6, Rider has won seven of 10 in conference play.

“We just needed to get that first MAAC win,” Fazzini said.  “Getting over that hump, after that we just took off.”

“We understand why we have had recent success and that is because we have defended teams,” Milligan added.  “Putting up 65 points in back to back games is because of the defense.  Your offense rolls a little better and a little easier when you don't have to grind out possessions and you can get some points in transition, especially against Manhattan's zone.  They play a tough 40 minutes of zone.”

The game was Rider's annual celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day and also the annual Play4Kay contest, raising awareness and donations in the fight against breast cancer.  Almost 1,000 fans were in attendance as the Rider Department of Athletics and the women's teams put on a two hour, free all-sport clinic.

“The administration does a GREAT job at putting on the event every year,” Milligan said.  “It is a special day that not only showcases our team, it represents all the female teams at Rider and celebrates all of their successes and exposes young fans to the different aspects of each sport.”

Rider looks to win four in a row for the first time since the 2011-12 season when the Broncs travel to Western, New York to face Canisius College (February 20) and Niagara University (February 22).

“The conference is unpredictable,” Milligan said.  “We spend a lot of time together on the trip so it is fun.  To go up there and have a chance to put ourselves in a good position for March is a great thing.”

-RU-