Lawrenceville, NJ – Junior point guard Lexi Posset (Pittsburgh, PA/Beaver Area) scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Rider University women's basketball team past visiting Canisius, 70-54, in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Gymasnium.

Posset scored in double figures for the third straight game thanks to knocking down 5-of-8 from three-point range and 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.

The Broncs (5-10, 2-2 MAAC) won their second game in a row, while the Golden Griffins (3-12, 1-3 MAAC) dropped their second consecutive league contest.

After falling behind early, 7-5, the Broncs closed out the first quarter on a 12-0 run over the final 6:59 to lead, 17-7, after 10 minutes. During the spurt, Rider forced six Canisius turnovers and knocked down a pair of three-pointers.

The Broncs would also end the second quarter strong as well, scoring the final seven points of the half to take a 19-point advantage at 41-22 into the break. In the second quarter, Rider outscored the Griffs, 24-15, and hit 50 percent (10-of-20) of their shots from the field.

Rider came out hot from the field in second half, shooting 75 percent (9-of-12) from the field in the third as their lead ballooned to as many as 26 late in the frame.

Offensively, Posset paced the Rider attack and sophomore Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) was the other Bronc in double figures with 12 points thanks to hitting 5-of-11 field-goal attempts.

NOTES & QUOTES
"The biggest difference the past two games has been our defensive effort. We really bought into the scout and honed in what we felt like our opponents strengths and weaknesses were. It's also no secret the past two games have Lexi's best games of the year. She's taken that turn of it being her job to run the team." – Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan

"We've talked about sustaining our consistency. If you start a quarter strong you should end it strong as well. Our consistency is growing on both ends of the floor. We are buying into the fact that if we play really good defense, offense becomes easy." – Milligan

"Before every game Coach is always telling me to pick up the pace and start the game off strong. That's part of the reason why I've been getting to the line. I'm look to push the ball in transition through getting to the basket or finding my teammates." ­Junior point guard Lexi Posset
 
-  The win was the third straight for Rider against Canisius after sweeping the regular-season series last winter.
- The Griffs lead the all-time series, 32-12.
- All of Rider's points in the fourth quarter came from the foul line as the team was 0-of-7 from the field.
- Rider shot over 46 percent (24-of-52) from the field.
- The Broncs forced 19 turnovers and committed just 15.
- Rider shot 70 percent (14-of-20) from the charity stripe.
- Rider scored 20 points off turnovers.
- The Broncs were 8-of-22 from three-point range.
- Rider outscored Canisius, 26-22, in the paint.  
- The Broncs had 10 steals.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Lexi Posset also added six rebounds, three assists and three steals. She was 6-of-12 from the field. She tied a career-high with her five three-pointers made. Posset also set new career-bests in free-throws made (10) and free-throw attempts (12).
- Stella Johnson had eight rebounds and tied a career-high with seven assists. She also dished out two assists. She hit both of her attempts from the free-throw line.
- Senior Kamila Hoskova scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds. She shot 4-of-8 from the field.
- Sophomore Lexi Stover hit two three-pointers and poured in eight points for the Broncs.

UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Wednesday, January 10, travelling to the Constitution State to square off with Fairfield at 7:00 pm. The Broncs won the last meeting between the two teams in last season's MAAC Tournament, but the Stags have won eight straight regular-season contests against the Broncs. Wednesday's tilt will feature live stats as well as audio and video feeds. For the links visit the women's basketball schedule page on GoBroncs.com.