South Orange, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team fell to East Carolina, 66-63, on Sunday afternoon at Walsh Gymnasium in the consolation game of the 2017 SHU Thanksgiving Classic.

The Broncs (0-6) dropped their sixth straight contest to begin the campaign, while the Pirates (2-4) bounced back after a setback to Jacksonville State yesterday.  

East Carolina opened the game on an 8-0 thanks to knocking down a pair of three-pointers and holding Rider to 0-for-3 shooting over the first 1:44 of the game. Rider used a spurt of its own to make it a one possession game at 14-12 following a driving lay-up from freshman Jaiden Morris (Richmond, VA/Monacan) before the Pirates would take an 18-15 edge into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, ECU knocked down 50 percent of its shots (6-of-12) and Rider countered with a 10-of-12 showing from the charity stripe to stay in the game. Despite holding East Carolina scoreless for a three-minute stretch in the frame, the Broncs trailed, 30-26, at the break.

Rider erased a four-point halftime deficit in the third quarter thanks to nine points in the frame from sophomore Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) and a stout defensive effort. The Broncs forced six East Carolina turnovers coming out of halftime and held the Pirates to just 4-of-15 shooting in the third.

The Pirates rallied in the fourth, outscoring Rider, 25-20, to earn the win and a third-place finish at the SHU Thanksgiving Classic. Down the stretch, East Carolina made its free throws and Rider's last-second inbound play was deflected out of bounds.

Offensively, senior Kamila Hoskova (Brno, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) paced the Rider offensive attack with a double-double thanks to an 18-point, 12-rebound performance. Three other Broncs scored in doubles figures as Stella Johnson poured in 16 points thanks to an 8-of-18 showing at the foul line, while freshman Jaiden Morris scored 14 points off the bench.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Today was crushing in the most positive way. I'm crushed for our kids. That was such a hard-fought game against a really good team. We just battled and battled. They threw the first punch and we got up. It was a solid defensive effort which was exactly what we needed." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan

- The meeting was the first-ever between Rider and East Carolina.  
- The Broncs only committed eight fouls and limited ECU to one free-throw attempt in the first half.
- Following the game, it was announced that Kamila Hoskova was named to the SHU Thanksgiving Classic All-Tournament Team.
- Rider attempted 22 or more free throws for the fourth game in a row. The Broncs went 27-of-35 from the charity stripe in the game. Rider took 19 more free-throw attempts than East Carolina.
- After hitting two of their first three attempts from three-point range, ECU missed their next eight attempts from deep.
- Rider took its first lead of the game late in third following a baseline jumper from Morris.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Hoskova's double-double was her first of the season and the fourth of her career as she scored a season-high 18 points. Her 13 free-throw attempts were a new career-high as were her 12 rebounds.
- Rider was held without a made three-point field goal for the first time this season.
- Morris has now scored in double figures three times this season, including back-to-back games.
- All 16 of Johnson's points came in the second half. Her eight free throws made and 10 attempted were both new career-highs.
- Rider is 0-2 in games decided by five points or less this year.
- Lea Favre was the other Bronc in double figures with a career-high 10 points.
- It was Lexis Posset's second game this year with more than five assists.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Friday, December 1, with a home non-conference clash versus Vermont that is slated to begin at 7:00 pm. Friday's tilt features live stats, video and audio feeds. For links visit the women's basketball schedule page on GoBroncs.com.