Women’s College Basketball: Rider University 62, Stony Brook University 50

STONY BROOK, N.Y. — Led by 18 points from senior Sironda Chambers (Wilmington, Del./Hodgson Vo-Tech.) and 16 points from junior MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)), the Rider University women’s basketball team opened the 2012-13 season with a non-conference win at Stony Brook University Friday evening (Nov. 9).

Chambers added six rebounds, six assists and a steal in 33 minutes of play with McKenzie, a preseason All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Second Team selection, just missing a ‘double-double’, finishing with nine rebounds.

Rider (1-0) saw the Seawolves cut the Bronc lead to three (29-26) with 17:49 left in the game. The Broncs responded by scoring 14 of the next 19 points, six points by Chambers and a three-pointer each by McKenzie and sophomore Kornelija Valiuskyte (Siauliai, Lithuania) as Rider opened up a 12-point lead, 43-31 with 9:28 left in the second half. Valiuskyte finished with six points and two assists in 24 minutes of action.

Leading by 11, Rider used a 5-0 run, all five points by McKenzie as the Broncs opened up their largest lead of the contest, 56-40 with 4:28 left in the game. McKenzie finished three for three from three-point range and added three assists and a block in 36 minutes.

Trailing 8-3, Rider went on a 10-1 run, five points each by senior Dior Brown (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) and Chambers as the Broncs took a 13-9 lead with 11:06 left in the opening half. D. Brown finished with eight points, three rebounds and two assists, playing 16 minutes off the bench.

A three-pointer by freshman Mikal Johnson (Manassas, Va./Osbourn) put Rider ahead by five, 16-11 with 10:38 remaining in the first period. Johnson had five points and two rebounds (both offensive) in her first collegiate game.

After the Seawolves cut the Bronc lead to 16-15, Valiuskyte drilled a three-pointer, as Rider extended the lead back to four and McKenzie hit a three-pointer with exactly five minutes left in the opening half as Rider led 23-18. The Broncs made seven three-pointers in the game and held Stony Brook to 0-9 shooting from long range.

Rider led 27-23 at the half.

The Broncs out-shot Stony Brook 36 percent (21-58) to 34 percent (18-52) and Rider held a 41-39 rebounding advantage, including 15-9 on the offensive glass.

This is the second season in a row that Rider has opened with a win, having defeated Lafayette to begin the 2011-12 campaign.

Rider leads the all-time series against Stony Brook 3-1. The Broncs defeated the Seawolves 53-41 in Lawrenceville last season.

Rider hosts the New Jersey Institute of Technology in the home opener on Monday in Alumni Gymnasium at 7 p.m.