2017-18 Rider University Women's Basketball
GAME 12: Thursday, December 28, 2017
Rider Broncs (3-8, 0-0 MAAC) vs. Marist Red Foxes (4-8, 0-0 MAAC)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ – Alumni Gymnasium (1,650)
Tip: 7:00 pm
Live Video: BroncVision
Live Stats: SideArm Stats
Twitter: @RiderWBB & @RiderAthletics
Listen: 107.7 The Bronc
Tickets: GoBroncTix.com
Notes: Marist

What You Need to Know
- Rider returns to action after the holiday break at home on Thursday, December 28, with a home Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) clash with Marist inside Alumni Gym. The meeting is the first conference contest for both teams. Last season, Rider swept the season series. The win in Poughkeepsie in mid-January snapped a 27-game losing streak to the Red Foxes.

- Last time out, the short-handed Broncs fell to Binghamton at home. In the game, three Rider players scored in double figures led by Stella Johnson with 16 points.

- Tomorrow's contest is the second of three straight home tilt to close out the calendar year for the Broncs.

- Marist enters conference play with a 4-8 overall record following an 88-60 road victory to close out non-conference play at UMass last Thursday. The Red Foxes have won three of their last four games and are currently 2-4 in true road games thus far in 2017-18. The balanced Marist offensive attack sees three starters averaging in double figures led by sophomore Rebekah Hand at almost 16 per game. Hand, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Year, also leads the Red Foxes in rebounding with over six boards per contest and free-throw percentage at 92.6 percent (25-of-27). Redshirt sophomore Alana Gilmer is making a splash in her first season with the Broncs. Gilmer is scoring 13 a game, highlighted by scoring a career-high 24 points at Temple. Junior Maura Fitzpatrick is pouring in better than 10 points a tilt and grabbing nearly six rebounds. As a team, Marist leads the MAAC in scoring (67.8 points per game), scoring margin (-0.5) and field-goal percentage (41.8).

- Thrust into a starting role against Binghamton, sophomore Lexi Stover knocked down a career-high four three-pointers and played a career-best 39 minutes. Stover scored in double figures for the first time this season and the first time since the 2015-16 campaign (her true freshman season).

- Sophomore transfer Aubre Johnson grabbed a career-best nine rebounds against Binghamton on December 21. It marked her fourth game this season with eight or more boards. She currently leads the team with 6.0 rebounds per game. In the post, five of her last six shots as well.

- After a career-best performance against NJIT last week, redshirt sophomore forward Lea Favre was honored as the College Sports Madness MAAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week. Favre became the second straight Bronc to earn the distinction after Kamila Hoskova picked up the honor the previous week. The weekly accolade was the first of Favre's young career at Rider. Favre scored a career-high 22 points in a 15-point Rider win at NJIT on Saturday. She knocked down 8-of-10 from the field and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Her eight field-goals made and six free throws were also career-bests for the six-foot redshirt sophomore. Favre also grabbed one rebounds and dished out one assist in the victory versus the Highlanders. Last time out against the Bearcats, Favre scored in double figures for the second tilt in a row. It was her third contest with 10 or more points this season.

- After struggling from the field early in the season, Rider has shot 45 percent or better in three of its last four games games. The Broncs shot 51.9 percent (28-54) at La Salle, 45.6 percent (26-57) at Mount St. Mary's and a season-best 59.6 percent (28-47) at NJIT. Versus Vermont on December 1, the Broncs hit eight three-pointers, against La Salle the team knocked down 6-of-12 attempts from beyond the arc and at Mount St. Mary's they shot a season-best 55.6 percent from three-point range and hit a season-high 10 shots from three-point range. Rider was shooting over 50 percent through three quarters against Binghamton, but a 2-of-17 showing over the final 10 minutes dropped their percentage.