FAIRFIELD, CT – The backcourt duo of Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) and Lexi Posset (Pittsburgh, PA/Beaver Area) combined to score 38 points to lead the visiting Rider University women's basketball team past Fairfield, 60-53, on Saturday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action inside Alumni Hall.

The Broncs erased an eight-point fourth quarter deficit to complete the regular-season sweep of the Stags. Rider outscored Fairfield, 26-11, over the final 10 minutes and the guests shot over 66 percent (8-of-12) from the field in the fourth quarter to end the regular season on a high note.  

The Broncs (18-11, 14-4 MAAC) will now enter MAAC Tournament riding a two-game winning streak, while the Stags (10-19, 7-11 MAAC) saw their two-game winning streak come to an end as they enter the MAAC Tournament as the No. 9 seed.

Trailing, 42-34, after three quarters, Rider opened the fourth on an 8-0 run courtesy of a pair of Posset treys and a lay-up from Stella to tie the game at 42.

With the score tied at 53 with under a minute remaining, the Broncs would close the contest on a 7-0 run. Stella opened the run by burying a stepback three to give Rider a lead they would not relinquish. After a stop, Posset stretched the lead to five a pair of free throws before Stella sealed the win with a steal and a pair of free throws.

Stella poured in a game-high 21 points to go along with five rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Posset scored 17 points and pulled down four boards.

NOTES & QUOTES
"This is a feel-good win. I'm really proud of our team for this one. We started a little slow, but we stayed the course. I think we did a really good job of executing down the stretch and that what it takes to win in March." –  Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan

- Rider has now won three straight games against Fairfield.
- The Broncs were 10-of-12 at the free-throw line. Rider has shot over 78 percent from the charity stripe in seven of their last eight games.
- Rider ended the year with a 14-4 mark in conference play. The 14 wins are the second-most in program history in conference play and their most-ever MAAC wins in an 18-game league schedule.
- The Broncs will be the No. 2 seed in the MAAC Tournament for the second time in the last three years and the second time in program history.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- It marked the 10th game this season in which Stella had five rebounds and five assists in the same game. Stella recorded two or more steals for the fifth game in a row.
- Posset has scored in double figures in each of her last four games. She hit 5-of-11 shots from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range.
- Amari Johnson had seven points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
- Lea Favre poured in nine points to go along with seven rebounds.    

UP NEXT
Rider has clinched the No. 2 seed in the upcoming MAAC Tournament. The Broncs will begin their quest for their first-ever MAAC Championship on Friday, March 8, at 3:30 pm facing the winner of Thursday's games featuring the still to be determined No. 7 seed and Iona.