Rider junior MyNeshia McKenzie and Siena senior Grenci Lily both lead their teams in very similar fashion.
McKenzie is the Broncs leading force at 13.9 points per game and 9.7 rebounds per game while Lily averages 15.4 and 9.4 in the same categories respectively, and is on point to become the 25th player in Siena history to reach 1,000 career points. McKenzie could well reach the same plateau within her next few games. In addition to the similarity of their averages, each leads their team from the same position.
The two forwards will test their similar numbers and games head-to-head when the two teams square off Friday for the second time of the season in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game.
Rider got the better of its last confrontation with Siena in a 73-61 road win on Feb. 15. During that game, however, Lily had the slight edge in the match up of team leaders, posting 24 points and 14 rebounds to McKenzie’s 12 points and eight rebounds.
“Last time we had some silly fouls early in the game and had to have other players step up,” said Rider head coach Lynn Milligan of the team’s last meet up with Siena. “We gave up too many boards and put Siena on the line too many times, but beyond that they really struggled to score against us.”
The win snapped Rider’s 10 game losing streak to Siena, who owns a 29-5 edge in all-time match ups between the two. A win on Friday would solidify the first season sweep of Siena in Rider history. It would be the Bronc’s fifth sweep of the season, with the previous four coming against Fairfield, Loyola Maryland, Manhattan and Saint Peter’s.
“We feel good and we are playing with confidence,” said Milligan. “We are still taking things one game at a time; our real passion right now is to end the season strong and do well in the conference tournament.”
Friday’s game will be the second to last of Rider’s regular season, with one more home game against Iona coming on Sunday before the MAAC Championships begin. It will also be the second to last game of the regular season for Siena, the final coming against Canisius on Sunday.
Rider is currently the No. 4 seed in MAAC standings with Niagara nipping at their heels. Siena is not far behind at No. 6 and is still fully capable of leaping both Rider and Niagara should if both teams were to lose their final two games and Siena were to win each of its final two. As a result, Friday’s game will weigh heavy on the standings.
After a tough blowout loss to conference leading Marist last Friday, Rider rebounded with a solid 73-58 win over Saint Peter’s on Sunday.
“In the Marist game we just missed too many easy shots,” said Milligan. “We got the looks we wanted and just couldn’t capitalize on them. We also gave up too many easy looks. The Saint Peter’s win was a great comeback for us because we were able to hit our easy looks and Caitlin was huge.”
Rider Senior Caitlin Bopp was a crucial part of the Bronc’s victory over Saint Peter’s, scoring 19 points with 12 rebounds and 3 blocked shots. She has been the heart of the team’s defense all season, often creating stops that lead to offensive success.
“I just try to play strong defense by keeping my hands up and being smart,” said Bopp.
“Caitlin took the game over,” said Milligan, referring to the team’s Saint Peter’s win. “Our defense feeds our offense, and she is so key to both simply because of her defensive prowess.”
Siena will be looking for a similar comeback game Friday as they are coming off of a blowout loss of their own at the hands of Iona.
The entire team’s struggles during that game can best be seen in the performance of their leader, Lily, who struggled from the field, going just two for 12, and finished with just 6 points. A late 16-0 run by Iona sealed an already trailing Siena’s fate.
Another key match up that could play spoiler to the McKenzie-Lily duel is that between Rider senior guard Sironda Chambers and Siena sophomore guard Tehresa Coles. Chambers has proven to be a reliable sidekick to McKenzie, averaging 13 points per game and 4.3 rebounds per game.
“Chambers ability to score in multiple ways takes a lot of pressure off Caitlin and MyNeshia,” said Milligan. “She needs to be that confident, talented player she has been all season for the team.”
Coles, meanwhile, provides a strong backup scoring option to Lily on a more defensive oriented team with few other go-to scoring options. She averages 9.2 points per game and 4.2 rebounds per game, numbers that are as similar to Chambers’ as Lily’s are to McKenzie’s.
Whichever key match up winds up truly being key, whoever winds up carrying their team, and whatever the result may be, Friday’s game should provide some much anticipated MAAC seeding clarity for both Rider and Siena with the conference championships right around the bend.
