Women's College Basketball
Manhattan College 74, Rider University 70
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

LAWRENCEVILLE—Despite 21 points from junior Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic), the Rider University women's basketball team could not overcome a 15-point deficit and lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game to Manhattan College on Monday evening in Alumni Gymnasium.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday and was postponed due to snow.

Manhattan (9-10, 6-4 MAAC) opened the game on a 7-0 run and led 12-2, 4:45 into the game with Rider (4-15, 1-9 MAAC) opening the contest 1-7 from the field.

“We didn't start off the game very well and had to climb back in it,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.

The Jaspers led 22-13 at the end of the opening quarter, with 12 points from Nyasha Irizarry on four for four shooting from long distance. Irizarry finished with 20 points on seven for 11 shooting including five three-pointers.

Trailing 25-13, Rider used a 6-0 run, two points each by junior Yeliz Dogan (Izmir, Turkey), junior Taylor Wentzel (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) and Perkins to cut the deficit to six with 6:44 left before the half.

Dogan had four points and three rebounds and Wentzel finished with two points and a career-high seven assists before fouling out.

Manhattan led 29-21 when Rider freshman Johnnah Johnson (Blackwood/The Hun School) and sophomore Kamila Hoskova (Czech Republic) hit back to back shots to get the Broncs within four points with 4:06 before intermission.

Johnson had a career-high 10 points and three rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench with Hoskova going for 12 points, five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

“Johnnah (Johnson) played significant minutes tonight and did a good job,” Milligan added.

Trailing 33-25, Rider used a 5-0 run, three points by Perkins to cut the Jasper lead to three with 2:06 left in the second quarter.

Manhattan led 39-33 at the half.  The teams combined for 26 fouls in the opening 20 minutes of play and there were a total of 59 fouls in the game.

“Manhattan plays an aggressive man to man,” Milligan said.  “They generate a lot of offense off their defensive pressure.”

The teams combined for 45 turnovers in the game with Rider forcing 21.

The Jaspers opened the third quarter on a 9-0 run and led 48-33, 4:05 into the period before Perkins hit a jumper.  The Jaspers pushed their lead to 15 with 5:58 left in the third period.

Back to back baskets from freshman Lexi Stover (Malvern, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and Perkins cut the Bronc deficit to 53-43 with 3:18 left in the third quarter.

Stover finished with three points in the contest.

Hoskova hit a layup with 9:03 left in the fourth period to get Rider to within eight and Perkins hit a three-pointer to get Rider to within 60-54 with 7:31 left in the game. 

“We kept digging ourselves a hole and then kept fighting back,” Milligan said.  “It's tough.  We felt we let one get away.  We competed hard but didn't get the job done.”

Two free throws by Perkins cut the Jasper lead to 69-63 with 2:23 left and two free throws by Dogan got Rider to within 69-65 with 2:05 left in the contest.

Junior Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) hit a layup with 58.4 seconds left cutting the Manhattan lead to four at 71-67.

Duggan had nine points and eight rebounds to go along with two blocks in 36 minutes of play.

Manhattan made three free throws in the final 58 seconds to preserve the win with Rider's Hoskova converting a three-point play with 3.8 seconds left for the final score.

Also for Rider, freshman Lexi Posset (Pittsburgh, Pa./Beaver Area) had a career-high nine points and added two steals and an assist in 11 minutes off the bench before fouling out.

Manhattan held a 41-33 advantage on the boards, including 16-8 on the offensive glass and the Jaspers held a 16-4 advantage in second chance points.

Rider played without starters C'quoya Haughton (concussion) and Manon Pellet (hip injury).

Manhattan has won three straight and the Jaspers improved to 29-12 all-time against Rider.  The teams split two MAAC games last season with each winning on their home floor.  The teams meet in the regular season finale on February 28 in Riverdale, New York. 

The Broncs return to action on Thursday night at Fairfield.

-RU-