December 19, 2006 - UMBC 69 Rider 61
December 19, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Basketball
Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County 69, Rider University 61
LAWRENCEVILLE--Looking to retrieve its first win of the season, Rider fell just short, falling to the Retrievers of UMBC Tuesday night in a non-conference game. “You have to focus and play strong defense every time,” said assistant coach Brian Johnson. “We didn’t do that and it cost us tonight.”
Trailing 60-42, Rider (0-9) went on a 10-2 run, six points by freshman Ashley Anderson (East Orange), to cut the lead to 62-52 with 4:44 left to play, but that was as close as the Broncs could get until the final score. Anderson finished with a career-high 14 points off the bench.
“We can’t constantly rely on the come backs,” said Anderson. “We have to play hard all the time, no matter if it’s the first or second half. I try to lead by example and work hard when I’m in the game or at practice.”
“Ashley and all our freshmen post players can work,” Johnson added. “Ashley got in there, worked hard and seized the opportunity. She got us some much needed shots in the paint and got to the line and that helps. We are deep and can go with a mix of any five on the court without giving a lot up.” Rider’s bench out-scored UMBC 22-1 in the game.
Holding a 41-40 lead, UMBC (5-6) went on a 19-2 run, 11 points by senior forward Sharri Rohde, to take a 60-42 lead with 9:00 left to play. Rohde finished with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds.
Trailing 35-16, Rider out-scored UMBC 19-4 over the final four minutes of the first half, eight points by sophomore Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, MD/West Lake), to cut the lead to 39-35 at the half. Parker finished with her first career ‘double-double’ with 15 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.
“We didn’t want to be down 19 with four minutes left in the first half,” Johnson said. “If we make that run at the end of the half with the score tied or within a point or two, then we are up by 16 points and not down four.”
Holding a 15-12 lead, UMBC went on a 16-2 run, seven points by 5’10” guard Morgan Hatten, to take a 31-14 lead with five minutes left in the first half. Hatten finished with eight points.
“For an 0-9 team, we have a lot of fight,” added Johnson. “We could have packed it in a long time ago but every game we are fighting. The scores don’t always indicate the effort but we are in games. We are expending too much effort battling back from large deficits and by the time we get close, we run out of energy and the other team opens the game back up. It wears you down and we had a lot of crucial turnovers at critical times.” The Broncs forced 16 turnovers but committed 20 on the night.
Rider junior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Loughlin) compiled 13 points and five rebounds for the Broncs, and freshman Stephanie Wisniewski (Levittown, PA/Villa Joseph Marie) added seven points and five rebounds.
“We need to focus for 40 minutes,” said Johnson. “We are getting there slowly but we are making strides. We just want to get that first win behind us and take it one possession at a time. Whether it’s getting a defensive stop, getting to the foul line or getting a score, that’s what we need to continue to focus on.”
Rider out-rebounded UMBC 42-35, the first time this season Rider has out-rebounded an opponent.
The Broncs travel to Towson Friday at 7pm.
-RU-
