November 26, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Women's College Basketball

University of Iowa 88, Rider University 41
Odwalla Classic Consolation Game

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.--The Broncs fell to the Iowa in the consolation round of the Odwalla Classic, held at the University of San Francisco Saturday night. “In the first half we hung with them,” said Rider head coach Tori Harrison.  “We executed and we played well.”

The Broncs (0-3) trailed 26-17 before Iowa went on a 9-0 run. Rider junior Kara Borel (East Stroudsburg, PA) scored at the halftime buzzer to cut the lead to 35-19. Borel finished with four points.

Iowa jumped out to a 15-4 lead and never trailed.  Holding a 35-19 lead at halftime, Iowa (2-2) scored the first 21 points of the second half, nine coming on three three-pointers by Crystal Smith, and the Hawkeyes out-scored Rider 29-2 to take a 64-21 lead.  Smith finished with 24 points. “In the second half we came out flat, and against a team like Iowa, you can’t come out flat.”

Rider junior Monica Welborn (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin) led the Broncs with 13 points, and freshman Danielle Costantino (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll) added 10. “Monica is steady,” said Harrison.  “She does the little things that we need her to do.  She had a good line tonight.”  Welborn was four of six from the field, made the only three-pointer she took, and was four of four from the foul line.

“Danielle just plays hard. She is from a winning program in high school and is trying to bring that success level here.” Costantino added four steal and made two of three three-point attempts and made both of her foul shots.

As a team, Rider made 12 of 14 foul shots.

Rider hosts Hartford November 29.

-RU-