December 8, 2006 - Saint Peter's 71 Rider 51
December 8, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Basketball
Saint Peter's College 71, Rider University 51
JERSEY CITY —The Broncs lost their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference season opener at Saint Peter’s Friday night. “We knew Saint Peter’s would come out quick,” said head coach Tori Harrison. “I’m just at a loss to explain why we are playing the way we are.”
Saint Peter’s (5-2, 1-0 MAAC) jumped out to a 16-2 start, five points by Elina Kalnina, and led 42-17 at half time. The 6’2” Kalnina of Latvia finished with ‘double-double’ compiling 12 points and 11 rebounds.
“We are working hard in practice,” said Harrison. “Things are just not sinking in and I’m at a loss to explain why. We did some things and played better in the second half but the positives were too far apart. We need to keep working hard and do the little things that will allow us to win games.” Rider outscored the Peahens by five in the final 20 minutes.
For the Broncs (0-6, 0-1 MAAC), sophomore Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, MD/West Lake) scored nine of Rider’s first 10 points of the game and finished with 11 points.
Rider trailed 52-23 before going on a 12-4 run, five points by sophomore Maura Gillooly (Fanwood/Scotch Plains-Fanwood), cutting the lead to 56-35. Gillooly finished with seven points.
Junior Kelli Sawyer (Philadelphia, PA/Friends Select) compiled eight points and three assists for Rider after missing three games with a shoulder injury.
“It’s going to take a few more games to get back in the flow,” said Sawyer. “I was just anxious to get back out there. My shoulder hurt a little but I felt good overall. Before the game, assistant coach Brian Johnson was telling me that I would have to be smart about how I played and ease my way back in. I was working on getting good shots that I could handle and I felt better the more I played but it was hard working my way back into the flow of a live game.”
Junior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin), Rider’s leading scorer on the season, scored six points, all in the final four minutes of the game.
Senior Kara Borel (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) grabbed five rebounds and now has 614, sixth most ever at Rider. Borel added a career-high four blocked shots.
Rider sophomore Danielle Costantino (Norristown, PA/Archbishop Carroll) added a season-high eight points with freshman Ashley Anderson (East Orange, N.J./East Orange) adding a career-high five blocks in 17 minutes of action.
The Broncs had a season high 10 blocks in the game, the most block shots since Rider played Loyola January 6, 2004.
“We talked about it after the game that we have to be more focused, especially on defense,” Sawyer added. “We have to play with passion, pride and desire and that’s what we are looking to do against Loyola on Sunday.”
Junior guard Johnell Burts led the Peahens with 14 points.
“We just have to be positive and play stronger,” Harrison added. “We have to believe that we are getting better and we have to start playing with that attitude.”
Rider hosts the Greyhounds in a MAAC game at 2:00pm Sunday.
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