Recruting: Women's Additions Ensure Rider's Future

Here's another in the series looking at newcomers joining conference programs for the upcoming season.

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RIDER WOMEN

- Julia Duggan, a 6-foot-1 freshman center: She was a four-year varsity performer at Ocean City (N.J.) High School and was the Atlantic City Press newspaper's Player of the Year this past season. She scored over 1,000 points and hauled in more than 1,000 rebounds over her career. "Julia is going to bring in some more side inside," said Rider head coach Lynn Milligan, in a release issued by the school. "She can help fill (voids for Rider). She is a very good face-up player and can post on the block. She moves really well and had a terrific summer."

- Stephanie Mason, a 5-9 freshman guard: A four-year varsity team member at Jackson Memorial H.S. in New Jersey, and a 1,000-point career scorer. Her 85 made three-pointers last season ranked third among all New Jersey high school players. "Steph brings long-range shooting," Milligan said. "She is going to be able to give us depth at our guard spot and extend our three-point range on the perimeter a lot more than we have in the past."

- Lashay Banks, a 5-10 junior guard: She was at Rider last season as a transfer from Cincinnati and is eligible for two seasons starting this year. She played 45 games at Cincy, but only averaged about five minutes per contest. In high school she was the Philadelphia Public League's Female Player of the Year as a junior at Prep Charter H.S.

- Robin Perkins, a 5-10 sophomore guard: She is a transfer from St. Francis (Pa.) where she averaged 2.4 points over 26 games last season. She will sit out this year as a redshirt and be eligible for three more seasons, beginning with 2014-15. She not only scored more than 1,000 career points at Trenton (N.J.) Catholic H.S., but was a state champion in the high jump. "Robin will do exactly what Lashay (Banks) did (last year), which is be a terrific piece at practice and challenge our other players to get better," said Milligan. Robin ... is a very talented young lady, athletic and long. Having a year to hone her skills and fit into our system will be terrific for her and to us as a team."

ANALYSIS: After decades of struggling, Rider's 15 victories a year ago was the program's best since the 1994-95 season, and it looks like the Broncs' newcomers will help ensure the team's success will continue. There are players to replace who graduated from a year ago, particularly up front. But, Duggan looks capable of helping to some extent. And, Mason fills a strong need for an outside shooter. Banks and Perkins are both quality additions who will step in a year from now and be major contributors.