Women's College Basketball – MAAC First Round
#10 Saint Peter's University 62, #7 Rider University 54

ALBANY, N.Y.—The Rider University women's basketball season came to an end in the First Round of the 2015 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championship Tournament with the Broncs losing to number 10 seed Saint Peter's 62-54 on Thursday afternoon at the Times Union Center.

Rider (11-20) was led by 15 points each from senior Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and sophomore Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City).

Trailing 51-40, Rider cut the Peacock lead to seven on a layup by Fazzini with 4:34 left in the game and she nailed Rider's first three-pointer of the game, cutting the deficit to 53-49 with 2:32 left as the Peacocks went through an 0-9 shooting streak.  The Bronc defense held the Peacocks without a field goal for the final 7:12 of the game.

Saint Peter's made nine of 10 free throws in the final 59.4 seconds to clinch the game.

Tied 31-31, Saint Peter's used a 10-2 run to take a 41-33 lead with 10:17 left in the game.

Leading 4-3, Saint Peter's used a 7-0 run to open up an eight-point margin over the Broncs with 14:06 left in the first half.

Trailing 11-3 six minutes into the game, Rider went on a 5-0 run, two points each by Fazzini and Duggan as the Broncs got to within 11-8 with 12:17 left in the opening half.

Duggan recorded her second 'double-double' of the season, pulling down 16 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass.

Saint Peter's responded with a 6-0 run and led 17-8, 10 minutes into the contest.

Trailing 23-16, Rider went on a 6-0 run, including a three-point play by Duggan, cutting the Peacock lead to one with 2:11 left in the opening half.

Duggan got an offensive rebound and put back to cut the Broncs deficit to 25-24 at the half.

Rider was 2-15 from three-point range, with the Broncs missing their first 11 from long distance.

Also for the Broncs, senior Marritta Gillcrease (Pittsburgh, Pa./Perry Traditional) had 11 points and 12 rebounds for her first 'double-double' of the season.

Rider was out-shot 41 percent to 27 percent with Saint Peter's 15-18 (83 percent) from the free throw line.

Saint Peter's improved to 3-1 all-time against Rider in MAAC tournament games and the Peacocks now lead the all-time series 44-15.  Rider and Saint Peter's split two games during the regular season with each team winning on its home floor.

After winning eight of 11 games, Rider ended the season on a four-game losing streak, including losses to top seed Quinnipiac University and second seed Marist College.

The Peacocks advance to face Marist at 7pm on Friday evening.

Rider returns nine letterwinners for the 2015-16 season.

-RU-