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Women's College Basketball
Rider Announces Conference Schedule 

LAWRENCEVILLE-Fresh off its most wins since the 1999-2000 season, the Rider University women's basketball team will open the 2009-10 schedule with a home game against Seton Hall (BIG EAST) on November 13 and will begin the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference schedule at Manhattan on January 3 it was announced by head coach Lynn Milligan.

Milligan, now in her third season at the helm of the Broncs, returns 10 letterwinners and four starters from a team that saw eight wins in the final month and a half of the season before Rider was knocked out in the first round of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.

"This year's MAAC schedule again will be very challenging," Milligan said.  "From top to bottom this is a terrific conference with great players and coaches.  This season will be no exception.  We are excited to continue preparing for a very competitive MAAC season."

The Broncs travel to Colgate out of the Patriot League on November 16 followed by a two-game home stand against Northeast Conference rivals Monmouth (November 19) and Fairleigh Dickinson (November 22).

Last season, Rider defeated the Red Raiders by 12 in Alumni Gym and knocked off the Knights five days later in overtime before losing to the Hawks, also in overtime in West Long Branch, New Jersey.

Rider looks to have some fun in the sun over Thanksgiving as the Broncs travel to Fort Myers, Florida (Alico Arena) taking on Zips of Akon (Mid-Atlantic Conference) on November 27 before the facing the host Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast on November 28 in the FGCU Thanksgiving Classic.  The Eagles are the defending Atlantic Sun champion and will participate in the Preseason WNIT to open the 2009-10 season.

The Broncs will face Fordham (Atlantic 10) for the first time since the 1984-85 season when Rider travels to the Bronx, New York on December 5.

Just in time for final exams, Rider will take a quick look at the Ivy League with a home game against Mercer County rival Princeton (December 8) before traveling to Philadelphia to play the University of Pennsylvania December 12.  The Broncs defeated the Quakers by 13 this past January in Alumni Gym.

A home game against La Salle (Atlantic 10) on December 20, followed by a trip to Syracuse, New York to take on the Orange out of the BIG EAST (December 28) rounds out the 11 game non-conference slate.

After MAAC road games at Saint Peter's on January 5 and Loyola January 8, Rider has a four-game home stand, facing conference defending champion Marist (January 11), Canisius (January 16), Niagara (January 18) and Fairfield on January 22.

Other home games include Iona (January 29), Manhattan (January 31), Loyola (February 14), Saint Peter's (February 19) with the final home game of the season against Siena on February 26.

Last season, 16 of Rider's 20 opponents reached double-digit win totals with three hitting the 20-win plateau and Milligan has again assembled a challenging non-conference slate to get ready for the rigors of the MAAC.

"Being able to play higher-ranked conferences will give our players solid competitive experiences to draw from when we get into conference play," Milligan said. "Playing BIG EAST teams like Seton Hall and Syracuse and La Salle from the Atlantic-10 will test us mentally as well as physically as we get ready for MAAC play."

Last season, Rider posted its second highest MAAC win total all-time (seven) including road wins at second place Canisius, third place Fairfield and fifth place Iona and overall, defeated six of the nine schools in the conference.

Rider will also host an exhibition game against West Chester on November 8 at 1pm in Alumni Gym.

The Broncs are led by senior Tammy Meyers (Willingboro) who led the team in scoring (14.2 ppg.), assists (101), steals (55), field goals made (148) and free throws made (109), earning Second Team All-MAAC honors and All-MAAC Rookie honoree Sarah Homan (Upper Darby, Pa.) who was third in the conference averaging 1.3 blocks per game.

For ticket information, call the Rider ticket office at 609-896-5054 or visit the Rider Athletics web page at www.gobroncs.com.

-RU-