In a game in which they did not own a lead until overtime, the Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team (1-2) dropped a 65-64 battle against the visiting Rider University Broncs (2-1), Friday, Nov. 21 at the Rothman Center in Hackensack, NJ.
A career-high 21 points courtesy of freshman guard Mariyah Laury (Orange, NJ/Orange) (Orange, NJ) could not combat a double-double from junior adversary Tammy Meyers' (Willingboro, NJ). Meyers carried her squad, putting up 28 points and 10 rebounds, amidst going 14-of-16 from the foul line. Meanwhile, Laury paced all student-athletes with a game-high, personal-best 39 minutes, while also recording seven points in OT.
FDU sophomore swing guard Alyssa Mayrose (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) (Freehold, NJ) notched 12 points, six boards, and three assists. Junior forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ) contributed 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Rider junior center Stephanie Wisniewski (Levittown, PA) hit the offensive glass and converted a pair of put-backs to grab a 5-0 lead early on. Altamirano got the Knights on the board at the 17:04 mark with an underhand scoop shot. Classmate Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ), a guard, intercepted a pass and drove the length of the floor for a contested deuce.
Senior guard Danielle Constantino (Norristown, PA) triggered a second 5-0 run for the Broncs, connecting from downtown. Knights' freshman center Erica McKeithan (Newport News, VA/Heritage) (Newport News, VA) crashed the offensive boards and banked in a bucket in the paint, cutting the deficit to 10-6 with 12:57 left.
With the shot clock expiring, Mayrose swished a runner in the lane at the 10:48 mark, bringing the game back to a single possession. Senior forward Shaunice Parker (Waldorf, MD) struck from the right elbow to push the margin to 14-10 in favor of the visitors.
Mayrose notched three points after a hoop and the foul in transition and two possessions later popped a 12-foot fade-away from dead on. Laury sank a free throw with 5:38 remaining and later knifed past a defender on the fast break, as the Knights drew within one, 19-18. However, the Broncs responded by rattling off nine-straight.
FDU hit the break down, 30-20, being out-scored 11-2 over the final 4:21 of the first half. Meyers' 10 points and five rips helped Rider to its largest lead of the night. Meanwhile, Mayrose paced the Knights with seven points.
After two-straight baskets to start the second stanza, Constantino nailed a trey from the left corner. At the 17:11 mark, McKeithan grabbed an offensive board and dropped in a deuce, with senior guard Nasim Ahmadzadeh (Uppsala, Sweden/Lofstromsgymnasium) (Uppsala, Sweden) then striking from long-range.
Sykes knocked down two from the charity stripe, bringing the count to 33-31, Rider. McKeithan did the same with 12:53 left, knotting things after a 13-3 surge.
Sykes would finish the night with a career-high eight dimes, flanked by nine points, five boards, and three steals. McKeithan registered a third-straight consistent stat line with nine points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Both ballers logged 38 minutes of floor time.
Meyers put the Broncs back up by four after slashing her way to the rim. Rider junior guard Amanda Sepulveda (Perth Amboy, NJ) punctuated a 10-2 run at the 7:30 mark with a pull-up. But a pair of FDU field goals drew Head Coach Peter Cinella's squad to 43-39.
Laury crossed up her defender in the left corner with 5:14 remaining, as Fairleigh Dickinson made it a 47-42 hole. Exactly a minute later, Altamirano kicked out to Mayrose for a trifecta. Sykes then picked a Broncs' pocket and hit Mayrose for a lay-in ? slicing it to a 53-47 margin.
Sykes stepped into a three with just over a minute left in regulation and the Knights forced a turnover at the other end. On the ensuing possession, Laury drained her first three-ball of the year, and the score stood at 53 all. After Sykes missed an attempt from the baseline, Mayrose took a charge with 2.1 seconds on the clock.
Laury collected 14 points, and Mayrose, 12, after 40 minutes. Meyers countered with 18 points and nine boards. Fairleigh Dickinson went on an 8-0 run over the final 3:57 to force overtime.
“We put together a gutsy comeback, but Rider had the ball last,” Cinella said. “Both teams showed tremendous courage tonight. Mariyah stepped up in the second half and overtime.”
Altamirano struck first in the extra session ? and simultaneously gave FDU its first advantage of the evening ? knocking down a turnaround jumper at the 4:10 mark. Wisniewski struck twice at the line, putting Rider up, 59-57, with 3:23 remaining. Seconds later, Laury stayed on fire by canning a three-pointer.
The Broncs went back ahead, before Laury netted a one-handed runner on the break. Fairleigh Dickinson found themselves on top, 62-61, with 2:09 left. Meyers then hit twice from the stripe, 27 seconds later.
With 1:29 left, Laury accepted a Sykes dish and banged a J from the right baseline. However, Meyers would take it to the tin and score with 2.2 second left, marking the game-winning field goal.
Rider's second victory in as many chances marks the program's first time taking back-to-back games since 2004. The Broncs survived an 18-8 FDU advantage of fast break points by holding a 45-40 edge of their own on the glass.
Fairleigh Dickinson travels to Princeton University ? their second of three-consecutive contests versus Garden State opponents ? at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25.
