February 9, 2007 - Niagara 66 Rider 60
February 9, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Basketball
Niagara University 66, Rider University 60
LAWRENCEVILLE—In a game that featured five ties and seven lead changes, Niagara held on and defeated Rider 66-60 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game Friday. “We feel that this was a missed opportunity,” said head coach Tori Harrison. “We battled and led at the half, score on our first four possessions in the second half and then turned it over seven times in a row.”
For the Broncs, sophomore Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, Md./West Lake) tied a career-high with 16 points, including a career-high three field goals from three-point range along with nine rebounds and two blocks in 24 minutes off the bench. This was the second time in the last three games that Parker was one rebound short of a 'double-double'.
“I’ve known that Shaunice can play like that all year,” said Harrison. “She is that kind of a talent and down two with a minute and twenty seconds on the clock, I wanted Shaunice to take that shot. That’s the kind of confidence I have in her game. I’m pleased with how she is playing.”
“I think we played well as a team,” said Parker. “We played a good game but we still need to execute and take care of the ball better. If we do that, we’ll have an opportunity to win any game that we are playing.”
With the score tied at 54 with 9:06 remaining in the game, the Purple Eagles went on a 6-0 run to lead 60-54 with 3:41 remaining. Rider (1-23, 0-13 MAAC) cut the lead down to two points twice, the last at the 1:50 mark 62-60 on a jumper by freshman Ashley Anderson (East Orange, N.J./East Orange) but could get no closer. Niagara (13-11, 5-8 MAAC) made four foul shots in the last 37 seconds to preserve the win. Anderson finished with eight points.
“We can’t beat anyone turning the ball over 22 times in a game,” Harrison said. The Purple Eagles had 13 steals on the 22 turnovers and only turned the ball over 10 times on the night.
“Niagara is a good team that has played us tough,” Parker added. “But I feel that a lot of our mistakes tonight were unforced. We made nine turnovers that weren’t stolen and every possession, especially in a close game is that important and we need to pick up our game in that area.”
The Broncs defeated Niagara twice last season and were tied at 34 with 17 minutes left up at Niagara Falls, New York in January.
The Purple Eagles jumped out to an early 27-15 lead with 7:11 remaining in the first half before the Broncs went on a 21-6 run, seven points by junior Janele Henderson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Loughlin) putting Rider in the lead 36-33 with 1:34 left in the half and Rider led 37-34 at half time. Henderson finished with 10 points and a career-high six assists.
Down six at 45-39 with 17:15 remaining in the game, Niagara went on a 7-0 run, with Chantelle Wilson scoring her only three points of the night to take the lead 46-45 with 14:59 left.
Also for Rider, senior Kara Borel (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) had 13 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes of action.
Niagara was led by Shaunna Ambrose who led all scorers with 22 points and seven rebounds. Ambrose also had three steals and two assists.
Sara Prybyl and Michelle Manfredi each added 13 points for the Purple Eagles.
The Broncs travel to Loyola on Sunday for a MAAC-TV game at noon. The game will be seen live on the Madison Square Garden Network.
“We have to prepare and continue play as a cohesive unit. What we do down the stretch isn’t only about this season but it’s instilling the right attitude for next season as well,” Harrison said.
“We just tried to come out intense and protect our home turf,” Parker added. “And it doesn’t matter that we are on the road on Sunday, we need to come out with that same effort. Home or away, the court is the same size, they know us, we know them and we need to just put forth a good effort and go play.”
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