LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J.- Monmouth University's women's basketball team opened up the 2007-08 season with a disappointing 59-46 loss to cross-state rival Rider University on Friday night.
After shooting just 25 percent from the floor in the first half the Hawks came out of the break down by 10, Monmouth's offensive struggles continued and the Broncs took advantage shooting out to a 44-30 lead in the first five minutes. Junior Jennifer Bender (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Tech) scored her first points of the game on a inside layup which was followed up by a Marbely Montas (Elizabeth, N.J./Elizabeth) jumper, cutting the Bronc lead to 10 with 11:41 to play. The Hawks picked up the defense on the next Rider possession, forcing a shot clock violation before a Montas free throw got the The Blue & White within single digits.
Rider's Janele Henderson scored her 18th point of the night, breaking a six minute scoring drought for the Broncs. Henderson then scored the next six points for her team as Rideer opened up a 52-39 lead with 5:21 to play. Monmouth was never able to close the gap, eventually falling by a score of 59-46.
The two teams' defenses dominated the opening minutes, with both squads causing turnovers and earning defensive rebounds. Rider struck first on a pair of Shaunice Parker free throws but Rachel Ferdinand (Califon, N.J./Voorhees) answered a minute later with a layup for the Hawks' first bucket of the night. MU struggled on the offensive side of the ball in the early part of the game, managing just four points in the first seven minutes. Meanwhile Rider's Henderson scored eight points the same time frame, including two three pointers, to give the home team a 12-4 lead with 11:55 to play in the first half.
Rider expanded their lead to 19-6 on an Ashley Anderson layup but the Hawks tallied five straight points- all from Nyaimah Ware (Washington D.C./Dunbar), to get back into the game. Rider quickly regained their 13 point lead when Henderson's third three ball of the half was followed up with a Kelli Sawyer off balance jumper. The first half ended with Brooke McElroy (Chesterfield, Va./Thomas Dale) answering a Henderson three pointer with a bucket from downtown of her own, cutting the Rider lead to 33-23.
The Hawks finished shooting just 29 percent and were out rebounded by a 35-52 margin. Montas was the only Hawk to finish in double digit scoring, finishing with 12 points, while Ware and Lakia Barber (Clinton, Md./Gwynn Park) each netting nine apiece. Bender led the Hawks with seven rebounds.
Henderson had 25 points to lead all scorers, while Parker and Sawyer each chipped in 10 with the winning effort. Parker was unstoppable on the glass, finishing with 17 rebounds.
Monmouth will go back to work on Monday, Nov. 12, when it travels to Easton to play Lafayette at 7 p.m.
