November 17, 2006 - Monmouth 82 Rider 70
November 17, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Basketball
Monmouth University 82, Rider University 70
WEST LONG BRANCH—Despite out-scoring the host Hawks in the second half, the Broncs fell to Monmouth Friday night. “We out-scored them in the second half, which is a good sign, but we can’t wait until the second half to start playing,” said Rider head coach Tori Harrison. “Hopefully this was a lesson for them.”
The Broncs (0-2) out-scored Monmouth 14-2 to start the second half, five points by sophomore Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, MD), to cut the lead to 42-40 with 15:37 left to play. Parker finished with nine points and six rebounds.
Holding a 53-49 lead, Monmouth (1-1) went on a 17-6 run, eight points by Lindsay Zegowitz, to take a 70-55 lead with 4:32 left to play. Zegowitz finished with 11 points.
Trailing 32-16, Rider went on 10-2 run, four points each by freshman Stephanie Wisniewski (Levittown, PA/Villa Joseph Marie) and junior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin), to cut the lead to 34-26, and Monmouth led 40-26 at the half.
Henderson had 12 of Rider 26 first-half points, and fouled out with 4:12 let to play with a team-high 15 points.
Wisniewski played just 12 minutes in the season opener due to foul trouble. “I got to play a little longer (31 minutes) tonight,” said Wisniewski. “I felt good to actually contribute tonight, instead of sitting on the bench. I feel I can do a lot better, however. My defense was not as good as I would have hoped, and I didn’t rebound as good as I would have liked.”
Wisniewski added 13 points and four rebounds. “Stephanie is just a hard worker,” Harrison said. “She’s a great kid and I’ve been impressed with her work ethic. She never complains, no matter how hard we work them.”
“We have to do the little things from thee beginning. We fell behind early but we fought our way back in the second half,” Wisniewski said. Wisniewski had nine points in the second half.
Rider never led in the game. With the score tied at 8-8, Monmouth went on a 12-2 run, eight points by Jennifer Bender, to take a 20-10 lead mid-way through the first half. Bender finished with a game-high 16 points off the bench.
Rider junior Kelli Sawyer (Philadelphia, PA/Friends Select) suffered a shoulder injury and played just 13 minutes. “When Kelli went down I was a little nervous, but everybody stepped up,” Harrison said.
Freshman Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy) added nine points in her Rider debut. “Amanda did a nice job coming in off the bench,” Harrison said, “and with Kelli injured we are really going to need her. She got healthy at the right time.” Sepulveda missed the season opener with a sprained ankle.
Senior Monica Welborn (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin) added nine points, a career-high four assists and three rebounds for the Broncs.
Rider hosts the University of Pennsylvania Sunday at 2pm.
-RU-
