LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Sophomore guard
Marisa Chapman sank a pair of free throws with 7.4 seconds left to lead the Yale women's basketball team to a 53-52 win over Rider at Alumni Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. Chapman's points capped a wild back-and-forth final 3:27 in which neither team led by more than two points and the game was tied four times.
Despite the close final score, Yale led the game for more than 31 minutes after an early dry spell. Rider led 10-9 in the second quarter when the Bulldogs dropped the hammer with an 8-0 run in just 55 seconds, including three-pointers from sophomore guard
Ke'iara Odume and junior forward
Luisa Vydrova followed by a long two from sophomore guard
Ciniya Moore. Chapman extended the run to 10-0 with a pair of free throws 55 seconds after Moore's basket, and the Broncs would not get any closer than within four the rest of the half.
Rider kept things close throughout the third, even going ahead briefly (27-26) at the 6:12 mark before Yale went on a 4-0 run. The Broncs tied the game twice later in the quarter but never went ahead.
The same pattern held for most of the fourth – until Rider finally broke through and took a 46-44 lead with 2:56 to play. Yale eventually tied the game 48-48, and got a go-ahead layup from senior forward
Kiley Capstraw with 1:32 to play. Two Bronc layups sandwiched around a Chapman free throw left the score at 52-51 Rider with 19 seconds to play. Chapman was fouled on a drive to the hoop and sank both free throws in front of a loud Rider cheering section. She then disrupted Rider's final possession, with the Broncs able to muster just a desperation heave that did not come close to the rim.
Yale improves to 3-7 (0-0 Ivy League) while Rider falls to 2-6 (0-0 MAAC).
STATISTICAL LEADERS
- Sophomore guard Marisa Chapman led Yale in points with 16 and steals with three.
- First-year forward Dorka Kastl led Yale in rebounds with eight.
- Chapman and senior forward Kiley Capstraw led Yale in assists with four.
KEY STAT
- Yale outscored Rider 17-11 in the second quarter, limiting the Broncs to .294 (5-for-17) shooting in that frame.
NOTES
- Yale is now 3-1 in its last four games.
- Junior forward Luisa Vydrova added 10 points and five rebounds.
- Capstraw is from nearby West Orange, N.J., and played for West Orange High. The Bulldogs practiced at her alma mater Friday. Capstraw's mother, Chelsea, played for Rider.
QUOTING DALILA ESHE, YALE'S JOEL E. SMILOW '54 HEAD COACH OF WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
- On Chapman's clutch performance: "It's incredible to watch the growth of our sophomores from their first year. The two big things – Ris [Chapman] missed some free throws earlier, but she was still able to get herself mentally focused when we needed those two at the end. And she came up with a defensive play to seal the game. That's part of our identity."
- On first-year guard Olivia Kim, who hit a couple key three-pointers in the third quarter: "We gave her incredible props in the locker room after the game. Being able to step in in that situation and give us the boost we needed – that really ignited us."
- On Capstraw's contributions: "Kiley is our captain and leader. Her presence on the court, calming us, being able to get us into actions, is huge. She's a Swiss Army knife; sometimes we play her at guard and sometimes we play her at forward. Today she did exactly what a senior captain does – made the tough shot when we needed it."
- On the value of playing, and winning, a close game: "Credit to Rider for playing with high energy. My message to the team was we'll take any win. Sometimes in a long college basketball season you just have to grind one out. Even just proving that we know how to win is valuable."
UP NEXT
- Yale plays at the University of New Haven Monday at 5:30 p.m.
