Women’s College Basketball: Canisius College 51, Rider University 50

LAWRENCEVILLE — Junior MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) finished one off a career-high with 22 points and added 13 rebounds for her 18th ‘double-double’ but it wasn’t enough as the Rider University women’s basketball team lost 51-50 to Canisius College in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Thursday afternoon (Jan. 10).

Trailing by one, Rider (6-8, 1-2 MAAC) had a chance to win the game on the final possession with the shot blocked at the buzzer.

With Rider leading 50-49, Jamie Ruttle made two free throws with 16 seconds left to give the Golden Griffins a 51-50 lead, the 13th and final lead change of the contest.  Ruttle was four for four from the free throw line and finished with seven points and three rebounds to go along with two blocks, including a block on the final play of the game.

Trailing 36-28, Canisius (5-9, 2-1 MAAC) went on a 12-0 run, four points by Allison Braun as the Golden Griffins took a 40-36 lead with 11:15 left in the game.  Braun finished with eight points and added five rebounds to go along with five steals in 26 minutes off the bench.

Trailing 46-40, Rider went ahead 50-49 with 2:49 left on the strength of a 10-3 run, including two three-point plays by McKenzie.  McKenzie made 10 of 12 free throws and Rider was 18 for 22 from the free throw line in the game. 

Rider held Canisius without a field goal and to only two points for the final 4:59 of the game.

The opening part of the game was a close battle with Canisius holding an early 19-17 lead with 8:04 left in the first half.  Rider rallied with a 9-2 run, four points by McKenzie as the Broncs went ahead 26-19 with 3:57 left in the opening half.

Rider led 28-24 at intermission.

The teams combined for 47 turnovers, 24 by Rider.

The Broncs had 13 steals, led by four each from McKenzie and senior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame).  Bopp finished with two points and five rebounds to go along with two blocks.

Canisius was led by Ashley Durham with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Also for the Broncs, freshman Mikal Johnson (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) had eight points, all in the opening half.

Canisius out-shot Rider 35 percent (18-52) to 29 percent (15-52).  The Broncs out-rebounded the Golden Griffins 40-34, including 17-11 on the offensive glass.

The teams meet again in 10 days in Buffalo, New York on January 20.

Canisius has won four straight over Rider and the Golden Griffins lead the all-time series 27-7.

This is Rider’s second one-point loss of the season (62-61 overtime loss at Central Connecticut).  Rider is now 4-7 in one-point games under head coach Lynn Milligan and 22-23 since 1977-78 in one-point decisions.

The game was Rider’s annual participation in the NCAA Kid’s Day promotion with over 800 fans attending the special noon start.  In conjunction with the NCAA, schools from around the country host elementary and middle school age children on the day of a game, exposing them to a day of activities and clinics on campus, culminating in attendance at a women's basketball game.

Rider travels to Loyola Maryland on Sunday for a 4 p.m. MAAC Game.