Women’s College Basketball: Mount St. Mary’s University 70, Rider University 67

LAWRENCEVILLE — Senior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Institute of Notre Dame) had 18 points and 12 rebounds but it wasn’t enough as Rider lost to Mount St. Mary’s on Friday evening (Nov. 16) in Alumni Gymnasium.

The ‘double-double’ is the 19th in Bopp’s career and she added two blocks, two assists and a steal, logging 32 minutes.

Trailing by two, Bopp hit a layup with senior Sironda Chambers (Newark, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech.) assisting to tie the game at 67 with one minute remaining, the 11th and final tie of the game.

Mount St. Mary’s (1-1) took a 69-67 lead on a jumper by Sydney Henderson with 42.5 seconds remaining and Selina Mann hit one free throw with 15.4 seconds left for the final score.  Henderson finished with a career-high 30 points, including six from three-point range and added eight rebounds (four offensive) to go along with four steals and three assists.

Rider had two chances to tie the game and missed both three-point attempts.

With the Mount leading 65-63, Chambers tied the game at 65 with a driving layup with 2:17 remaining.  Chambers finished  with 15 points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Trailing 63-57, Rider tied the game on free throws by junior MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) and Bopp along with a field goal by Chambers with 3:01 remaining.  McKenzie finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, going 14 for 14 from the free throw line.

Rider led 51-44 before the Mount went on a 10-0 run to go back into the lead, 54-51 with 8:59 left in the game as the Broncs were held without a field goal for almost eight minutes.

Leading 39-31 at intermission, Rider extended its lead to eight (41-33) on a layup by Bopp before the Mount went on an 7-0 run to get within one with 16:49 left in the game.

Trailing 15-11, Rider tied the game at 17 with 8:12 remaining in the first half with a 6-2 run, all six points by Chambers.

After MSM responded with a 5-0 run, Rider went on a 5-0 run, three points by freshman Mikal Johnson (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) to tie the game at 22.  Johnson had five points, two steals and an assist in 19 minutes.

Trailing 24-22, the Broncs used a 6-0 run, two points each by Bopp, McKenzie and Chambers to take a 28-24 lead with 4:49 remaining in the opening half.

McKenzie hit a three-pointer, Bopp scored a layup and McKenzie followed with two free throws as Rider extended its lead to nine, 37-28 on the strength of a 7-0 run with 1:24 left in the first half.

Mount St. Mary’s out-rebounded Rider 34-33 with the Broncs holding an 11-10 advantage on the offensive glass.

The Mountaineers shot 43 percent (23-53) with Rider shooting 40 percent (21-53) from the field.

Rider was 21-24 from the free throw line (88 percent).

This was the 22nd meeting all-time between Rider and the Mount.  Former Northeast Conference rivals, Mount St. Mary’s leads the all-time series 17-5.

Rider won at Emmitsburg, Maryland last season 53-44.

The Broncs travel to Princeton for a 7 p.m. game on Tuesday at Jadwin Gym.