November 12, 2006 - Rice 92 Rider 57
November 12, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Basketball
Rice University 92, Rider University 57
LAWRENCEVILLE—The Broncs began the 2006-07 season with a loss to Rice Sunday. “Rice is the best team we are going to see this year,” said Rider head coach Tori Harrison. “I’m not down on my team, because they fought hard and everything that went wrong today is correctable.”
Junior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin) led the Broncs (0-1) with 16 points, three assists, three steals and three rebounds. “This was a learning experience for us,” said Henderson. “This game showed us everything we need to do.”
Rice (2-0) jumped out to an 8-0 lead and never trailed. Five Owls scored in double figures, led by senior Lauren Neaves, a preseason All-Conference USA selection, who compiled a game-high 18 points and a game-high eight rebounds. “Rice is probably the toughest team we’ll see this year,” Henderson said. “I think they are picked to win their conference, and their conference is pretty good. They out-hustled us today.”
Trailing 13-3, Rider went on a 10-4 run, seven points by junior Kelli Sawyer (Philadelphia, PA/Friends Select), to cut the lead to 17-13 with 12:45 left in the first half. Sawyer finished with 13 points, five rebounds and three assists in her Rider debut. “I felt we had some spurts of positive things,” said Henderson.
Holding a 17-13 lead, Rice went on a 9-0 run, three points by Maudess Fulton, to take a 26-13 lead mid-way through the first half. Fulton finished with 14 points off the bench. Holding a 31-20 lead, Rice went on a 10-3 run, eight points by Valeriy Berezhinska, to take a 41-23 lead with 6:10 left in the first half, and the Owls led 54-31 at halftime. Berezhinska finished with 10 points
Although Rider committed 27 turnovers, the Broncs forced Rice into 22 turnovers. “We knew it would be difficult to compete with their size up front, so our goal was to pressure the ball, and we did that,” said Harrison, “but 27 turnovers is too many for us to commit and win.”
Rider trailed 71-40 before going on a 9-0 run, six points by Sawyer, to cut the lead to 71-49 mid-way through the second half. “We made some defensive stops, so we did have some positives today,” Henderson said. “I think we had more offensive rebounds than they did (12-11 Rider), and that is something we didn’t do last year.”
Senior Kara Borel (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) added 10 points, four steals and four rebounds for Rider.
The 92 points is the most Rider has allowed since losing to Drexel 92-62 on December 29, 2003.
Freshman Stephanie Wisniewski (Levittown, PA/Villa Joseph Marie) started in her collegiate debut but played just 12 minutes due to early foul trouble. “I didn’t get to see Stephanie play as much as I would have liked,” said Harrison. “She is an integral part of what we’re trying to do. Those two fouls early hurt her.”
“We just need to come together. We’re not having another last year (3-25),” Henderson said. “That’s all I have to say about that.”
Rider travels to Monmouth Friday. The Broncs beat Monmouth 67-57 at Rider last season.
-RU-
