Lawrenceville, NJ – Senior Kamila Hoskova (Brno, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) and sophomore guard Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) powered the Rider University women's basketball team past visiting Manhattan, 67-51, inside Alumni Gymnasium on Thursday evening in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action.

The duo combined for 34 points, 22 rebounds and four steals on 13-of-21 shooting to pace the Rider offensive attack. Hoskova poured in a game-high 22 points to go along with nine rebounds and a pair of steals, while Johnson recorded her third double-double of the season thanks to a 12-point, 13-rebound performance.

The Broncs (9-13, 6-5 MAAC) bounced back from a setback last time out at home, while the Jaspers (8-13, 5-5 MAAC) have now dropped two of their last three conference contests.

Manhattan started the game hot from deep, knocking down three of their first four attempts from three-point range to build an 18-15 edge after the first quarter.

Hoskova went off in the second quarter, scoring 10 points to help the Broncs take back the lead. Rider ended the first half on an 11-0 run thanks to holding Manhattan without a field goal over the final 3:44 of the frame. The Broncs forced six Jasper turnovers in the second hold a 30-26 advantage heading into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Broncs stretched their lead to as many as 11 courtesy of shooting 9-of-18 in the stanza and forcing six Jasper turnovers. Stella Johnson and junior point guard Lexi Posset (Pittsburgh, PA/Beaver Area) came alive in the third for the Broncs, combining for 11 points on a perfect 6-of-6 shooting from the field.

The Broncs put the game away in the fourth quarter, scoring 15 of the first 17 points in the stanza to stretch their lead to 20.

Posset was the other Bronc in double figures with 15 points thanks to hitting all three of her attempts from three-point range.

NOTES & QUOTES
"The month of February is when you have to be playing your best basketball and tonight was a step in the right direction, particularly defensively in that second half. We just put 40 really solid minutes of defense together. With Code Cranberry and all the other Rider student-athletes in the crowd I think it helped give us a nice push." – Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan

"At first wearing the mask was hard, but I'm getting used to it. I think we have the ability to make a run this year because we play with so much energy." – Senior Kamila Hoskova

- In the first half, Hoskova hit 6-of-10 from the field, while the rest of the Broncs shot 5-of-23.
-  The Broncs have now won four in a row against the Jaspers after sweeping the regular-season series last year.
- Rider is now 8-0 this season when holding its opponents to 60 points or fewer.
- The Broncs are 6-2 in MAAC play when leading at the half.
- Rider is 6-1 in league play when they shoot a higher percentage than their opponents.
- The Broncs were 8-of-16 from three-point range. It was the fourth game in which the team has connected on eight or more shots from deep.
- The Broncs held Manhattan to 3-of-14 shooting in the second quarter.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- All 15 of Posset's points came in the second half. She hit three or more three-pointers in a game for the fourth time this year. All four occasions have come against MAAC opponents. She is shooting over 46 percent (21-of-45) from beyond the arc in conference play.
- Stella's 13 rebounds were a new career-high. She also added a game-high six assists and two steals. It marked her seventh game this season with five or more assists. She also hit 5-of-8 from the field.
- Hoskova finished one rebound shy of a double-double for the third time this year. She shot 8-of-16 from the field and tied a season-best with three made three-pointers. Hoskova also added a pair of steals.
- Off the bench, Jaiden Morris had three points and three steals in 17 minutes.
- Lea Favre finished with nine points.

UP NEXT
Rider hit the road to face in-state and hOURglass rival Monmouth on Saturday, February 3. The Broncs swept the season series with the Hawks last year. Saturday's tilt, the only between the two teams during the regular season, will feature live stats as well as audio and video feeds. For the links visit the women's basketball schedule page on GoBroncs.com.