November 26, 2006 - Hofstra 85 Rider 52
November 26, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Basketball
Hofstra University 85, Rider University 52
HEMPSTEAD, NY—The Broncs lost at Hofstra Sunday afternoon. “We started well, better than we have in the first three games,” said head coach Tori Harrison. “We then hit a 16 point lull and against a good team like Hofstra, you can’t do that.”
Rider (0-4) jumped out to a 10-6 lead, four points by sophomore Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, MD/West Lake).
“Early in the game, we played as a team,” said Parker. “We were doing the little things early on and that kind of fell off.”
Rider led 17-16 mid-way through the first half before the Pride (4-1) out-scored Rider 16-0 to take a 32-17 lead with 5:00 left in the first half. Hofstra freshman guard Samantha Brigham came in off the bench to score 12 points in the first half to lead the Pride to a 48-25 half time lead. Brigham finished with a career-high 14 points.
For the Broncs, junior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin) compiled 11 points, making six of six foul shots, and grabbed four rebounds.
“We discussed before the game that we had to get off to a good start,” Harrison added. “I guess now we have to work on the middle and the end. I thought we played hard, we just didn’t play smart.”
The Broncs committed 14 turnovers in the game.
Rider sophomore Maura Gillooly (Fanwoood/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) added eight points, making two of two three-pointers, senior Monica Welborn (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin) compiled eight points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, and Parker finished with eight points
“Hofstra just defeated Michigan State on Wednesday,” said Harrison. “We knew we had to play flawless and we did for the first five minutes. It just went down hill from there.”
“We just have to play more of a complete game,” Parker added. “We have to just continue to work hard.”
Hofstra, coming off a road victory over 17th ranked Michigan State, out-scored Rider 16-6 to start the second half, taking a 64-31 lead as Rider went over 12 minutes (covering both halves) without a field goal.
“That was our focal point before the game, to not let Hofstra reverse the ball and we let them do it over and over,” Harrison added. The Pride out-scored the Broncs 26-12 in the paint.
Rider hosts La Salle Saturday at 2:00 pm.
“I am going to keep telling the kids to remain positive and keep working hard,” said Harrison. “For example Wake Forest in football was picked to finish 10th in the ACC and they are playing for the conference championship next week. We have to continue putting in the effort and the wins will start to come.”
-RU-
