CNBNews

Women's College Basketball

LAWRENCEVILLE—Senior guard Janele Henderson of the Rider University women’s basketball team was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Week for all games played the first week of the season it was announced by the conference office Monday afternoon.  "We are working on getting Rider looked upon as a different team," said head coach Lynn Milligan.  "We want to be known as a team that will show up for every game, work hard and play defense and that effort in the first two games got noticed.”

Henderson, a 5-9 Brooklyn, New York native out of Bishop Loughlin High, led Rider to a 1-1 week, averaging 22 points per game while playing 77 out of a possible 80 minutes.

"It is exciting to receive the conference recognition," said Henderson.  "I'm just trying to bring senior leadership to the table and make this a different year."

"Janele stepped up and showed that she can carry the team when she needs to," said Milligan who is in her first season as Rider's head coach.  "Whether it is on the offensive end or the defensive end, she is someone we can turn to and count on throughout the year." 

Against Monmouth on November 9, Henderson scored a career-high 25 points as Rider defeated the Hawks 59-46, winning its opening game for only the third time in 17 seasons.

At Maryland Baltimore County on November 11, Henderson played the whole game scoring 19 points, including eight in a row as Rider rallied from an early 13 point deficit.  Henderson scored 11 of Rider 22 first half points.

"We have a different attitude this year," Henderson added.  "I think that all of us showed that even if we get down, we aren't out of it and that we are going to battle for all 40 minutes.  Being a senior and one of the leaders on the team, I had to step up and everyone else was able to follow."

The Broncs lost to UMBC 58-53 on a Retriever three-point field goal with 53 seconds left.

This marks the first weekly conference award for the team since then sophomore Kara Borel ’07 was named conference player of the week on December 20, 2004.

"To be a successful team, you need strong senior leadership," Milligan added.  "Janele has worked hard and is determined to finish her senior season a winner."

The Broncs host Hofstra on November 15 in Alumni Gym before traveling to Annapolis, Maryland to face Navy at 2:00pm on November 18.  "We are going to put the loss on Sunday behind us, work hard in practice the next few days and we'll be ready to face Hofstra on Thursday night," Henderson added.

-RU-