Women's College Basketball: Rider University 65, University of Pittsburgh 48

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Led by 20 points from senior Sironda Chambers (Wilmington, Del.), the Rider University women's basketball went into Pittsburgh and defeated the Pitt Panthers in a non-conference game Sunday afternoon (Dec. 16).
 
Chambers shot 7-15, including 3-4 from three-point range and added five rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 32 minutes of play.
 
Trailing 37-36, Rider (5-4) went on a 7-2 run, three points by junior MyNeshia McKenzie (Springfield, Pa./Springfield (Delco)) as the Broncs retook the lead 43-39 with 9:58 left, the fifth and final lead change of the contest.
 
McKenzie had eight points, eight rebounds and a block in 37 minutes of play.
 
Two free throws by Chambers and a layup and two free throws by senior Caitlin Bopp (Baltimore, Md./Inst. of Notre Dame) gave Rider a 53-43 with 6:19 left.
 
Bopp. the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week last week, was limited to 21 minutes after picking up two fouls in the opening  two minutes of the game but finished with seven points and 13 rebounds.
 
Bopp is now fourth on Rider's all-time rebound list with 741.
 
Pittsburgh (6-4) opened the game on a 7-0 run in the first 2:54 of the game and the Panthers held Rider (4-5) to 0-9 shooting until Chambers hit a field goal just over four minutes into the game.
 
Trailing 10-2, sophomore Kornelija Valiuskyte (Siauliai, Lithuania/The Rock School) converted a three-point play, sparking a 7-0 run as Rider got to within 10-9 with 9:54 left in the opening half.
 
Valiuskyte finished with those three points but added three assists, two rebounds, two steals and a block in 29 minutes.
 
After the Panthers responded with two baskets, Chambers hit a three-pointer bringing the Broncs to within 14-12 with 7:38 left in the first period.
 
Trailing 17-12, Rider went on a 8-0 run, including a three-pointer by Chambers and a three-point play by grad student Carleigh Brown (Philadelphia, Pa./Nazareth Academy) (off a steal and assist from freshman Mikal Johnson (Manassas, Va./Osbourn)) as the Broncs went ahead 20-17 with 1:48 left in the first half.
 
C. Brown had five points and four rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench with Johnson adding six points, two rebounds, an assist and a block in 18 minutes.
 
Rider led 24-22 at intermission.
 
Pitt tied the game at 24 before Johnson made three free throws, putting Rider in the lead 27-24 with 18:55 left in the game.
 
Johnson was three for three from the free throw line and Rider was 17-22 from the charity stripe.
 
The Panthers responded with a 5-0 run before Johnson hit a three-pointer as part of a Rider 5-0 run as the Broncs went back in the lead 32-29, 3:16 into the second half.
 
Trailing 36-33, Pitt went on a 4-0 run, taking a 37-36 lead with 14:00 left in the game.
 
Also for the Broncs, senior Dior Brown (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby) had eight points, two rebounds, a block and a steal in 17 minutes.

Rider shot 37 percent from the field and held the Panthers to 27 percent, including 1-9 from three-point range.

The Broncs held a 43-42 rebounding advantage.
 
This was the first meeting in women's basketball between Rider and Pittsburgh.
 
Rider travels to Central Connecticut State University for a non-conference game at 6 p.m. on Friday evening.