Lawrenceville, NJ – Sophomore Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) recorded her first career double-double, but it wasn't enough as the Rider University women's basketball team fell on the road to Lafayette, 60-45, on Tuesday evening in non-conference action at the Kirby Sports Center.

The Leopards (1-3) connected on nine shots from three-point range to snap a three-game skid, while the Broncs (0-4) saw their four-game stretch against teams from the Patriot League to open the season come to an end.

Lafayette held Rider without a field goal for an 11-minute window from the second quarter into the third to turn an 11-point lead into a 14-point Bronc deficit. The Leopard zone gave Rider trouble as the Broncs shot just 17 percent (3-of-18) from three-point range on the day. In total, Rider was just 1-of-13 from the field coming out of halftime in the third. However, the Broncs did knock down eight attempts from the charity stripe in the frame.

The Leopards used a three-point barrage in the third to stretch their lead to as many 20. In the stanza, Lafayette connected on 4-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc, while Rider hit just one from deep.

The Broncs won the fourth quarter, outscoring the hosts, 15-11, thanks to 5-of-13 shooting. The Leopard lead was too big to overcome down the stretch as Rider lost its fourth contest in a row.

Johnson paced the Rider attack with 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting. She also knocked down all four of her free throw attempts, while grabbing 12 rebounds and recording three steals. Senior Kamila Hoskova (Brno, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) was the other Bronc in double figures as she scored 10 points thanks to a 6-of-8 showing from the charity stripe.  Off the bench, both freshman Jaiden Morris (Richmond, VA/Monacan) and sophomore Lea Favre (Vevey, Switzerland/Lycee Jeanne D'Arc) both poured in five points apiece.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Obviously we didn't start out defensively the way we wanted. Once we got our defense straightened out we couldn't make a shot. We got the looks we wanted. We got the ball on the block and wide open threes and they just didn't drop. Like I said last game we are a work in progress and we will get it figured out." – Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan

"I think we're a little rushed. We were probably a step or two further out then we should be on some of our three-point looks. I think we got a little tight. Everyone wanted to make the big shot to get us rolling. It's not for a lack of anything except we just aren't good enough right now. We need to continue to work hard every day and get this thing straightened out. I think the last three quarters defensively were a lot better." – Milligan

- Rider missed four free throws and had three turnovers in the first quarter.
- The Broncs had seven second-chance points in the opening frame compared to zero for the Leopards.
- There were six lead changes in the first quarter before Lafayette kept Rider without a FG for the final 2:59 of the stanza.
- Rider had no assists on seven made field goals in the first half.
- The Broncs are 0-4 against teams from the Patriot League this year.
- Rider has outscored the opposition in the fourth quarter in two of their last three games.
- Rider outscored Lafayette in the paint, 20-18, in the game.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Hoskova also grabbed six rebounds for the second game in a row.
- Lexi Posset scored all five of her points in the first quarter.  
- Jaiden Morris has hit a three-pointer in all four games this season.   
- Rider had four assists on 13 made field goals.
- The Broncs shot 73 percent (16-of-22) from the free-throw line. It was the second game in a row that the Broncs have attempted 22 or more free throws.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Saturday, November 25, travelling to South Orange to compete in the two-day SHU Thanksgiving Classic. The Broncs open up against host Seton Hall on Saturday at noon before squaring off with either East Carolina or Jacksonville State on Sunday at noon. This weekend's tilts will feature live stats and video. For links visit the women's basketball schedule page on GoBroncs.com.