Rider University Athletics

WORCESTER, MA – The Rider University women's basketball team lost on the road to Holy Cross, 71-61, on Sunday evening in non-conference action inside the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.  

The Crusaders (1-0) scored their fourth straight victory against the Broncs (0-3) after topping RU in Lawrenceville last season.  

Holy Cross jumped out an early edge and held Rider to 25 percent (3-of-12) shooting to lead by one at 8-7 after 10 minutes of action. The hosts outscored the Broncs, 16-11, in the second quarter to take a 24-18 advantage into the break.

Rider came out strong in the third, but the Crusaders did as well. Rider hit 3-of-5 attempts from beyond the arc coming out of halftime to cut the deficit to five heading into the final quarter.

Over the last 10 minutes, Holy Cross hit 7-of-14 from the field and 10-of-12 from the foul line to hold off Rider's rally.  

Offensively, Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) led the charge for the Broncs. She poured in 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting. Junior Lea Favre (Vevey, Switzerland/Lycee Jeanne D'Arc) added eight points, while junior Amari Johnson (Red Lions. PA/Dallastown), junior Tracey Goodman (Lansdale, PA/Phil-Mont Christian Academy) and freshman Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) all chipped in seven points apiece for the Broncs.  

NOTES & QUOTES
"First of all, I thought we got a great effort from everyone tonight. That's the team I want to coach. We'll be just fine. Amanda stepped into a tough situation and ran the team well in the second half. Our intensity was great. Defensively we were solid. We put them on the free-throw line a few too many time and we missed some put backs. I'm pleased with our effort today. Not the start we wanted, but we are progressing in the right direction." – Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan

- Holy Cross has won all four meetings in the series history between the two teams.
- Rider outscored Holy Cross, 22-21, in the third quarter. The Broncs have won the third quarter in all three of their games this season.
- Stella Johnson was 9-of-19 from the field, while the rest of the Broncs were 15-of-48.
- Rider was 7-of-13 from the charity stripe and Holy Cross was 25-of-30 from the foul line.
- The Broncs outscored the Crusaders, 26-18, in the paint.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Stella Johnson has now scored over 20 points in her last five games dating back to last season's MAAC Tournament. She also added six rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. Stella connected on 2-of-6 attempts from three-point range.
- Amari Johnson tied her career-high with seven points. She also added a team-high seven rebounds for Rider.  
- Mobley played the entire second half for the Broncs. In a career-high 23 minutes played she also added three rebounds, one assist and one steal.
- Goodman had seven points on an efficient 3-of-5 shooting.  

UP NEXT
Rider returns to the friendly confines of Alumni Gymnasium on campus for a non-conference clash against Mount St. Mary's on Saturday, November 17. Opening tip is scheduled for 7:02 pm. The Broncs are looking to avenge a setback to The Mount on road last season.