Nov. 11, 2011
Box Score
LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - A cold start to the second half made the difference on Friday night as the Lafayette women's basketball team lost its 2011-12 season opener at Rider, 64-56. Ashley Springer scored a team-high 10 points for the Leopards, and Sarah McGorry posted eight points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Springer's 10 points off the bench came on 3-for-5 shooting from the field and a 4-for-6 day at the free throw line. Samantha Jordan added nine points, while McGorry's eight points were matched by Danielle Fiacco and Emily Homan. Madeline Fahan netted seven points, Brya Freeland chipped in with four and Kristan Liddle notched two points to round out the Lafayette scoring.
The Leopards outrebounded Rider, 49-38, on the back of McGorry's 14 rips. Fiacco pulled down six boards, and Fahan and Homan each hauled in five. Lafayette turned 17 offensive rebounds into 12 second-chance points.
Defensively, Homan blocked four shots and Fiacco swatted three. Jordan and Fahan each had three steals.
After a back-and-forth first half, the Leopards went into the locker room trailing by just two points, 30-28, but came out of the intermission cold - converting just one field goal in the first 11:02 of the period as the host Broncs built a 15-point cushion at 48-33. Lafayette rallied back, as Springer scored six points during an 11-3 run that cut the deficit to 51-44 with 5:57 remaining in regulation.
Rider kept the Leopards at bay until the closing minute, when Fiacco sank a turnaround jumper with 34 seconds to go that brought Lafayette back to within a possession, down 58-56. However, with the Leopards fouling to stop the clock, the Broncs went 6-for-6 from the stripe and Lafayette would not score again in a 64-56 defeat.
Rider was led by Sarah Homan, who just missed a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds. MyNeshia McKenzine pulled down 11 rebounds for the Broncs.
The Leopards are back in action on Monday, opening the home schedule against defending Ivy League champion Princeton. The action from Kirby Sports Center begins at 7 p.m. on the Lafayette Sports Network and GoLeopards.com.
