Women’s College Basketball: St. Francis Brooklyn 58, Rider University 55

LAWRENCEVILLE — St. Francis Brooklyn snapped an eight game losing streak, defeating Rider University 58-55 on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 29) in Alumni Gymnasium.

The Broncs were led by senior Sironda Chambers (Wilmington, Del.) who scored 18 points.

Trailing 58-48 with 2:42 left in the game, Rider (5-6) went on a 7-0 run, including a three-point play by Chambers, cutting the Terrier lead to three (58-55) with 1:16 left in the game.

Chambers was seven for seven from the free throw line and Rider was 20-26 (77 percent) from the charity stripe in the game.

Rider caused a turnover and had two chances to tie the game in the final 16 seconds, including an off balance three-pointer at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime.

The Broncs opened the game, scoring eight of the first 12 points, six by Chambers as Rider led 8-4 with 15:22 left in the opening half.

The Terriers responded with a 5-0 run as St. Francis took a 9-8 lead 6:38 into the contest.

After two free throws by junior MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco), St. Francis (3-8) scored the next five points and led 14-10 midway through the opening half.

McKenzie finished with 14 points and added five rebounds and three steals in 30 minutes and her 591 rebounds are now 10th best all-time at Rider.

Trailing 14-10, Rider went on a 9-0 run, six points by sophomore Emily Fazzini (Wayne, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) as the Broncs retook the lead 19-14 with 6:50 left in the first half.  Fazzini finished with eight points I in the game.

St. Francis responded with a 9-0 run of its own and the Terriers held the Broncs to only two free throws in the final 6:50 of the first half as St. Francis took a 23-21 lead into intermission.  The game had five ties and five lead changes, all in the opening 20 minutes.

The Terriers opened the second half with seven straight points and held Rider scoreless until senior Dior Brown (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) scored on a running jumper with 16:28 left in the game, bringing Rider to within 30-23.  Brown finished with six points in the game, grabbed two rebounds and had a steal in 14 minutes off the bench.

Trailing 42-33, Rider cut the Terrier lead to 45-42 with 6:24 left on the strength of a 9-3 run, seven points by Chambers.

St. Francis scored 13 of the next 19 points, opening up its largest lead of the contest, 58-48 with 2:42 left.

The Terriers were led by 16 points each from Sarah Benedetti and Jaymee Veney.

Senior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame) led Rider with eight rebounds, four on the offensive glass and Bopp added five points, two assists, a block and a steal in 33 minutes.

Rider was out-rebounded 37-32.

St. Francis out-shot the Broncs 43 percent (23-54) to 31 percent (15-49).

Former Northeast Conference rivals, this was the 25th meeting between Rider and St. Francis with the Terriers winning for only the fourth time in the series.

Rider hosts defending conference champion Marist College on Jan. 4, 2013, at 7 p.m. to begin MAAC play.