Rider bows out to Marist in MAAC semis
ALBANY, N.Y. >> The Rider women’s basketball team was right where it needed to be in the fourth quarter, only this time it couldn’t finish off Marist for the third time this season.
The second-seeded Broncs conceded a crucial run midway through the final period and fell to the third-seeded Red Foxes, 6252, in the MAAC semifinals at the Times Union Center on Sunday afternoon.
“All three of our games this year were down to the wire and today was no different, just a different result,” coach Lynn Milligan said. “We came out in that first quarter and defensively we had a couple letdowns that cost us, but the resiliency of this team has shown through all year. To come back and put ourselves in a situation to win the ball game, we just didn’t get it done in the end.”
Rider (19-12) trailed by as many as 15 in the first half and never led in the game, although it did pull even four times in the fourth quarter before Marist (239) used a crucial 11-0 run to take control.
“I felt like we were chasing, but we were right there when we needed to be, but we didn’t pull through,” said junior guard Stella Johnson. “All season we’ve been slow in the first quarter or slow in the third quarter and we need to fix that next season.”
The Broncs trailed 10thseeded Iona by 15 at halftime in the quarterfinals before rallying to a victory. They nearly did it again when Johnson, the MAAC Player of the Year, started to heat up. She scored 11 of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter as Rider chopped a 10-point halftime deficit to three.
The Red Foxes tried to trap the ball out of Johnson’s hands on the perimeter and plug driving lanes. They had some success with that strategy since Johnson needed 21 shots for her 24 points.
“If I’m tired, I push through for my team because I don’t want to go home, but I didn’t really concentrate on being tired or breathing heavy,” Johnson said. “I focus on the game and getting that next score, steal or rebound.”
Rebekah Hand and Grace Vander Weide scored 14 points each for Marist, which played without first team All-MAAC performer Alana Gilmer due to an illness. Gilmer averaged 22.5 points in the two regularseason meetings against Rider.
“One of the top five wins in 17 years,” Red Foxes coach Brian Giorgis said. “Got the text that Alana had been sick and the day went on and she wasn’t getting any better. We told the kids in the locker room (before the game). It was about everybody stepping up.”
Vander Weide started the game’s defining run with a 3-pointer, Lovisa Henningsdottir followed with a bucket and Molly Smith, getting minutes because of Gilmer’s absence, converted a 3-point play that forced Milligan to call timeout.
“These two games we didn’t start well, but their desire to win was at a high level,” Milligan said. “I’m not surprised that we were able to come back both days, but today took a little more energy. Once we tied the game up, we couldn’t get that big shot to fall.”
Lexi Posset finished with 13 points and Lea Favre added 10 for the Broncs, who will get a postseason game, possibly in the WNIT if top-seeded Quinnipiac were to beat Marist in Monday’s final.
“Coming in as a freshman, the program wasn’t as good as what it is now,” said Posset, a senior. “Just being able to be part of this program and change it, it means a lot. It sucks to leave like this, but I’m proud we made a mark like this.”
Milligan likes where her program is at after finishing second for the second time in three seasons and reaching the semifinals for a third straight year.
“The resolve of this team is strong, our parts are strong, their belief is strong, their trust is strong,” the 11th-year coach said. “It’s something we’ll carry into postseason and into our future to get what we want. Obviously, what we want is a MAAC championship and I want it so bad for these kids because of what they do for us on a daily basis and how they represent Rider University. It truly breaks my heart that we didn’t get it done today.”
Notes: Top-seeded Quinnipiac advanced to the championship game with an 80-42 victory over fourth-seeded Monmouth. The Bobcats have won 51 straight games against MAAC opposition.