Women's College Basketball
Siena College 66, Rider University 45
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Game

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y.—The Rider University women's basketball team was sent to its sixth straight defeat as the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game at Siena College on Friday evening.

Siena (8-7) improved to 5-0 in the MAAC with a 66-45 win.

“We battled like we always do but when you dig yourself a hole, it's hard to come back,” said head coach Lynn Milligan.  “I thought Siena did a good job with their press and obviously we didn't help ourselves.”

Rider had 20 turnovers in the game (15 in the opening half) with the Saints holding a 20-10 points off turnovers advantage.

For Rider (3-11, 0-5 MAAC), sophomore C'quoya Haughton (Albany, N.Y./Stoneleigh Burnham Prep) celebrated her 21st birthday with her second career 'double-double' scoring 11 points and adding 12 rebounds.

“Being from the area, 'C' had a lot of family and friends in attendance and I had a feeling she was going to give us a solid effort,” Milligan said.

Siena was led by Jackie Benitez who made six three-pointers and scored 25 points off the bench.

Trailing 8-6, Siena went on a 6-0 run to take a 12-8 lead with 1:02 left in the opening quarter as the Broncs committed nine turnovers in the opening 10 minutes.

Siena opened the second quarter with a 6-0 run, pushing the Bronc deficit to 18-10 as Rider went without a point for the first 4:36 of the quarter.

Freshman Lexi Stover (Malvern, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) hit a three-pointer with 5:34 left in the second quarter, cutting the Saint lead to 18-13.  Stover finished with five points in 14 minutes of play.

Leading 25-16, Siena used a spurt of 11-2 that included an 8-0 run and the Saints ended  the half with a 36-18 advantage.

Rider had 15 turnovers to only four for Siena in the opening half and the Saints out scored Rider 24-8 in period two.

Haughton converted a three-point play getting Rider to within 38-21 with 8:30 left in the third quarter.

Freshman Johnnah Johnson (Blackwood/The Hun School) came off the bench with a block and a layup and then converted a three-point play to get Rider within 42-27 with 4:51 left in quarter number three.  Playing 10 minutes, Johnson had seven points and two steals and she got to the free throw line for five attempts, converting three.

“We've been working on that four post rotation and Johnnah is working her way in to be a part of that,” Milligan said.  “I was glad we got her some extra minutes and she responded well.  She is a strong and tough player.”

Rider was held to four points (and no field goals) over the final 4:51 of the third quarter as Siena used a 9-4 run to open up a 51-30 lead after 30 minutes of play.

Rider and Siena finished the final quarter 15-15 for the final score.

Siena out-shot Rider 35 percent (20-58) to 27 percent (14-52) and the Saints held a 42-39 rebounding advantage including 16-12 on the offensive glass.

Siena leads the all-time series 31-9.  Rider had won five in a row over the Saints with Siena winning the last two in the series.

The teams meet in Lawrenceville on January 17 on ESPN3 at 1pm.

Also for Rider, senior Manon Pellet (Marseille, France) had five assists to move into 11th on Rider's all-time assist list with 280.  Pellet had five points and four rebounds but committed seven turnovers.

Rider returns home for its first game in Alumni Gymnasium since December 17 when the Broncs host Niagara University on Sunday, January 10 at 2pm in a MAAC game.

-RU-