Women's College Basketball
Rider University 74, La Salle University 61

LAWRENCEVILLE—The saying goes 'it's not how you start but how you finish'.  For the Rider University women's basketball team, it's also about the start. 

A 26-12 start in the opening quarter on Thursday night against the La Salle Explorers led the Broncs to a 74-61 non-conference win and a 3-0 start to a season for the first time in 34 years.

“We are very pleased with the outcome,” said head coach Lynn Milligan who is in her 10th season as the Bronc head coach about the contest that saw a combined 44 fouls.  “It was a hard fought, physical battle.”

Playing their third game in seven days, Rider was led by 15 points from senior Robin Perkins (Willingboro/Trenton Catholic) and 12 points by Kamila Hoskova (Czech Republic).

“This was a long week,” Milligan said.  “This is big; this sets us up for a long road trip and is the best outcome we could have hoped for.”

Senior Julia Duggan (Marmora/Ocean City) notched her 10th career 'double-double' with 12 points and finished one off a career-high with 15 boards and her 572 rebounds are now 12th best all-time at Rider.

Trailing by 12, La Salle (0-3) cut the Bronc lead to 60-54 with 5:30 remaining in the game before a long two-pointer by freshman Safie Tolusso (Vevey, Switzerland) stopped the Explorer run.  Tolusso finished with six points in 15 minutes off the bench.

“We kept our composure when La Salle made its run,” said Duggan who added a team-high three steals in 32 minutes.  “La Salle is a long and quick team and each game is a learning experience for us.”

“When we needed to get stops, we did,” Milligan said.

The Bronc defense held La Salle to no field goals and seven points, all on free throws over the final 5:30 of the game.

Rider started the game on an 8-0 run in the opening 3:28, with four different players hitting the scoring column as the Bronc defense held La Salle without a field goal for the first four minutes of the contest.

“Every single game, we have started out with that defensive intensity,” Milligan said.  “Tonight was the same.  That's been the common denominator in the start.  Starting strong defensively takes pressure off the offense.”

Perkins hit a driving layup, making it 10-1 Rider with 6:18 left in the opening period.

“Leading is a challenge and not something we've been used to,” said Milligan who has seen her squad ahead on the scoreboard for over 95 straight minutes over three games.  “Our pace and intensity has gotten us off to some great starts.  Protecting a lead, that's something we are learning as far as some of the shots we take with 5:00 left in the fourth quarter leading by 10 points.”

Rider has only trailed 6:05 out of 120 minutes this season and two of the three games were wire to wire victories with no ties and no lead changes.

After La Salle responded with a 5-0 run, cutting the Rider lead to 10-6, Perkins scored the next four points and Rider led 14-8, 5:30 into the game. 

Perkins finished the opening quarter with eight points.

Hoskova scored five points in a 12-2 Rider run, pushing the Bronc lead to 26-12 after the opening period.

The second quarter saw La Salle cut into the Bronc lead as the Explorers cut the deficit down to 32-24 with 5:32 left in the period. 

Field goals by Duggan and Hoskova were part of a 5-0 Rider run as the Broncs pushed the lead back to 13 with 3:35 left before the half and Rider led 37-26 at intermission.

Leading 43-34, Rider used a field goal from sophomore Lexi Posset (Pittsburgh, PA/Beaver Area) and two free throws each from Hoskova and Perkins to work the lead back to 15 with 6:29 left in period three and Rider led by 10 heading into the final frame.

Playing 18 minutes off the bench, Posset had five points and four assists.

Also for the Broncs, reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week Stella Johnson (Denville/Morris Catholic) had nine points, a rebound, block and a steal in 26 minutes of play with senior Taylor Wentzel (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) adding five points, five rebounds and four assists in 25 minutes of action.

“We have a lot of threats and a deep bench,” said Duggan who is now a 94-game veteran.  “We need that.  Being deep and having players come in who can keep up the intensity, that's big.”

Rider committed 17 turnovers but forced La Salle into 19 miscues.

“Things really start with our defensive intensity,” said Milligan.

Nine players scored at least five points in the game for Rider.

“It's a product of our offense,” Milligan added about the balanced scoring.  “These young ladies work hard in the gym every day.  I can help get them into positions on the floor where they will be successful but they need to step up and make the shots.”

Rider out-shot La Salle 50 percent (28-56) to 33 percent (21-64).  La Salle held a 40-33 advantage on the glass including 16-5 in offensive rebounds.

The Explorers were led by 25 points from Amy Griffin who made nine of 23 shots and was seven for seven from the free throw line.

This is the first time in 10 tries that Rider has defeated La Salle.

Rider last started a season 3-0 in 1982-83 under Bronc Hall of Famer Agnus McGlade-Berenaro.

“We aren't hanging a banner for being 3-0,” said Milligan.  “We wanted to come out of the week, healthy and playing good basketball and with three wins.  Our goal is to win every time we step on the floor.  Now it's time to take the next step.  It's a process and the next phase presents some new challenges.”

The Broncs hit the road for seven straight games, beginning with UCF Thanksgiving Classic, playing at Central Florida on November 26 before facing St. Bonaventure on November 27.

-RU-