Women's College Basketball
Fairfield University 63, Rider University 56
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference

FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Junior Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) scored 19 points but it wasn't enough as the Rider University women's basketball team lost 63-56 at preseason Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference favorite Fairfield University on Thursday evening in Alumni Hall.

“I thought we played a hard, solid game,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “We didn't get the stops we needed.  There was a long rebound here and a loose ball there that we just didn't get.”

The second leading scorer in the MAAC, Perkins played 38 of 40 minutes.

The Stags were led by 20 points from junior Kelsey Cary.

“Cary hurt us inside on a consistent basis tonight,” Milligan said.  “We didn't react to her counter moves very well.”

Tied 6-6, Fairfield (10-10, 5-6 MAAC) ended the first quarter on a 6-0 run, holding Rider scoreless for the final 4:33 of the opening period to open up six point lead as the Broncs began the game 3-14 from the field.

Back to back baskets by Perkins at the start of period two cut the Bronc deficit to two points before Fairfield responded with a 5-0 run opening up a 17-10 lead, 2:03 into the second quarter.

Rider (4-16, 1-10 MAAC) used a 10-0 run, five points each from freshman Lexi Posset (Pittsburgh, Pa./Beaver Area) and Perkins to take an 20-17 lead with 5:12 left in the second quarter.

Posset finished with a career-high 14 points in only 15 minutes of play.

“Lexi is getting there,” said Milligan.  “We planned on playing her more, especially in the opening 20 minutes but she exhausted herself and that's all I can ask of her.  She played as hard as she possibly could.”

The Stags used a 5-0 run to take a 22-20 lead with 3:49 left before the break.

Tied 22-22, Fairfield scored eight points in a row to push its lead to 30-22 with 23 seconds before intermission and the Stags led 30-24 at the break.

Rider held Fairfield to an 0-6 shooting stretch halfway through the third quarter with Perkins and junior Yeliz Dogan (Izmir, Turkey) scoring field goals to cut the Stag lead to 34-30 at the 5:20 mark.

Dogan finished with four points and added five rebounds.

Fairfield responded with a 9-0 run to take a 43-30 lead with 2:13 left in the third quarter and the Stags led 46-32 at the end of three periods.

“That last part of the third quarter really hurt us,” Milligan said.

Two free throws by Perkins cut the Stag lead to 56-46 with 4:13 left in the game and a three-pointer by Posset again cut the Bronc deficit to 10 at 59-49 with 2:59 remaining.

Perkins hit a driving layup and Posset followed with a three-pointer, her third of the game to get Rider within 59-54 with 1:32 left.

Fairfield hit four of six free throws in the final 1:12 to clinch the win.

The Stags held a 38-32 advantage on the glass.

Rider was out-shot 45 percent (23-51) to 38 percent (23-60).

Also for the Broncs, junior Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) had a game-high 10 rebounds and added 10 points for her ninth career 'double-double' and her fifth of the season.

Rider again played without two injured starters, senior Manon Pellet (Marseille, France) and sophomore C'quoya Haughton (Albany, N.Y./Stoneleigh Burnham Prep).  Pellet missed her third game in a row with a hip injury and Haughton was sidelined for the second game in a row with a concussion.

Fairfield now leads the all-time series 36-6 and the Stags swept the regular season series for the second year in a row.  The teams met just 14 days ago in Lawrenceville with Fairfield defeating Rider 55-39 in a game seen on ESPN 3.

Rider hosts Marist College Saturday evening at 7pm in Alumni Gymnasium.

-RU-