LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – A balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive effort led the Rider University women's basketball team past visiting Saint Peter's, 62-52, on Friday evening in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action inside Alumni Gymnasium.

The Broncs (10-14, 7-6 MAAC) completed the regular-season sweep of SPU, while the Peacocks (4-21, 1-13 MAAC) dropped their fifth straight league contest.

Rider jumped out to an early edge and never looked back. The Broncs held Saint Peter's to just 11 first-half points and forced 17 Peacock turnovers during the opening 20 minutes. Rider used a 9-0 run to build an advantage in the first quarter and the Broncs held SPU scoreless for the first 6:23 of the second quarter to stretch their lead to as many as 20.

Saint Peter's cut the deficit to 12 heading into the fourth quarter thanks to outscoring Rider, 24-17, and ending the frame on a 6-0 spurt. The Broncs would hold off the Peacocks in the fourth for the conference win.

Three Broncs scored in double figures led by sophomore guard Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) with 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting, while both senior Kamila Hoskova (Brno, Czech Republic/Sportovni Gymnazium Ludvika Danka) and sophomore wing Lexi Stover (Malvern, PA/Archbishop Carroll) chipped in 13 points apiece.

In the post for the hosts, sophomore Lea Favre (Vevey, Switzerland/Lycee Jeanne d'Arc [Nevada]) finished one point shy of her first career double-double courtesy of a nine-point, 11-rebound performance.

NOTES & QUOTES
"I think the best thing we did today was that we finally got that good start we've been looking for. We've been working hard trying to find ways to start the game better. We played a really good first half, holding them to 11 points is something we need to do. In the second half we didn't have that same intensity." – Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan

"In the fourth quarter, when it mattered and we were holding a 10-12 point lead I thought we executed our offense really well. We ran the same play two trips in a row with Stella getting a three and then Kammy hitting one. We're starting understand time and score with when we need to execute. We take a lot of pride in our free throws. I'd like us to get there more. I was happy with that and our three-point shooting." – Milligan

"The past few games we've started really slow in the first quarter and coach stressed to us this week that we had to start fast and know our principals on defense. So we really focused on that." – Sophomore guard Stella Johnson

"Our unselfish play starts with our chemistry. We want to get everyone a touch when they get on the court." – Johnson

- The win was the sixth straight for Rider against Saint Peter's.
- The Broncs have swept the regular-season series in each of the last three seasons.  
- Nine of the 10 Broncs that saw action in the first quarter scored.
- The Broncs never trailed in the game. It was the second game this season in which Rider never faced a deficit (first in conference play).
- Rider has held their opponents to under 60 points in all seven of their MAAC wins this year.
- The Broncs hit 11-of-12 (91.7%) from the free-throw line. It was their game this season in which they knocked down over 90 percent from the charity stripe.
- Rider forced 20 SPU 20 turnovers. The Broncs have forced 17 or more turnovers in a game 15 times in 2017-18.
- Rider shot 42.3% (22-of-52) from the field.
- The Broncs hit 7-of-18 from three-point range.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- In two games, Stella shot over 62 percent (17-of-27) against Saint Peter's this season. Tonight she was 4-of-4 from the foul line. She also added three assists, one rebound and one steal. Stella was 3-of-4 from three-point range as well.
- Hoskova added three rebounds, three assists and four steals. It was her second game in a row with three or more steals. On the year, she has recorded three or more steals in a game seven times.
- Stover knocked down 3-of-5 from three-point range.
- Lexi Posset added six points and three assists.
- Favre's 11 rebounds were a new career-high. It was her second game this year with 10 or more boards. She hit 4-of-7 from the field.

UP NEXT
Rider closes out a two-game home stand on Sunday, February 11 squaring off with Iona at 1:00 pm inside Alumni Gymnasium. The Broncs are looking for the season sweep against the Gaels after topping Iona, 62-49, earlier this year in New Rochelle. Sunday'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.