Women’s College Basketball: Rider University 56, Loyola University Maryland 41

LAWRENCEVILLE — In a game seen on ESPN3, the Rider University women’s basketball team won its second game in a row, defeating Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference rival Loyola University Maryland 56-41 before almost 1,300 fans on National Girls and Women in Sport Day (Sunday, Feb. 17).

Rider (13-12, 9-6 MAAC) was led by junior MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) who finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds (six offensive) for her 22nd career ‘double-double’ and 10th of the season.  McKenzie now has 916 points in her Rider career and her 733 rebounds are fifth highest all-time at Rider.

Leading 38-36 with 6:30 left in the game, Rider held Loyola without a field goal for the final 4:42 of the contest and the Broncs ended the game on an 18-5 run, seven points each by sophomore Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) and McKenzie.  Fazzini made a clutch three-pointer with 4:20 left and finished with 15 points and four rebounds, all on the offensive glass and added two assists and two steals in 32 minutes.

Rider out-rebounded the ‘Hounds 48-33, 23-7 on the offensive glass.

Trailing by 17 (36-19), five minutes into the second half, Loyola (10-15, 5-9 MAAC) went on a 17-2 run, five points by Nai Brown as the ‘Hounds got to within two points (38-36) with 6:30 remaining in the game.  Loyola held Rider to one field goal during a span of 10:59 in the second half.  N. Brown finished with eight points.

Rider opened the game on a 13-0 run, eight points by senior Sironda Chambers (Wilmington, Del.) and the Bronc defense held the ‘Hounds without a point for the first 6:05 of the game.

Chambers finished with 10 points, two rebounds and a steal in 26 minutes.

Leading 16-7, Rider scored six of the next eight points, two each by McKenzie, Chambers and senior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame) as the Broncs expanded their lead to 22-9, 12:23 into the game.

Bopp finished with eight points and 15 rebounds (seven offensive) to go along with two assists, two blocks and a steal in 35 minutes.  With her 866 rebounds, Bopp is second all-time on Rider’s career rebounding list, trailing only Bronc Hall of Famer Jessica Beck who pulled down 1,023 boards from 1993-96.

Loyola cut the Bronc lead to nine before Rider held the ‘Hounds without a point for the final 4:46 of the opening half and Rider ended the first period on a 5-0 run, three points by McKenzie as the Broncs went into intermission leading 31-17.

Both teams struggled from the field with Loyola out-shooting Rider 28 percent (12-43) to 27 percent (17-64).

Loyola was led by Katie Sheahin who had 13 points, seven rebounds and four steals with Nneka Offodile adding 10 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Led by nine free throws from McKenzie (out of 10 attempts), Rider was 17-19 from the charity stripe in the game.

Rallying from a 16-point deficit with 5:50 remaining in regulation to force overtime, Rider defeated Loyola 81-74 on January 13 in Baltimore, Maryland and today’s win over the ‘Hounds marks the first MAAC season series sweep.

Rider has won 11 of 41 games all-time against the Greyhounds.

The 41 points allowed ties a season-best with the Broncs also allowing 41 points at Manhattan on January 6 in a seven-point win.  This is the fifth time this season and 18th time under head coach Milligan that Rider has held an opponent below 50 points.

This was Loyola’s last conference visit to Alumni Gym as the ‘Hounds are moving to the Patriot League for the 2013-14 season.

With Siena College defeating Niagara University on Sunday, Rider moves into sole possession of fourth place in the MAAC at 8-6.  With four conference games remaining, the eight wins represent the most in six seasons under Milligan and are Rider’s second highest win total in 16 seasons in the conference.  The Broncs went 10-8, finishing fourth during the 1999-2000 season.

Rider travels to defending conference champion Marist College on Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.