NEW ROCHELLE, NY – Senior Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) became the all-time leading scorer in Rider University women's basketball history thanks to pouring in a game-high 24 points in an 81-37 victory at Iona in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Broncs (9-2, 2-0 MAAC) won their sixth straight game, while the Gales (2-9, 1-1 MAAC) suffered their fourth consecutive loss at home.
 
On her first touch of the game, Stella drove to the basket for the record-breaking bucket. The Broncs got off to a quick start and never trailed in the contest en route to the win.
 
Coming out of halftime, senior Amari Johnson (Red Lion, PA/Dallastown) scored seven points as Rider extended its lead to 31 at 59-28 after 30 minutes.
 
Amari had another strong game for Rider as she recorded her fourth straight double-double thanks to a 17-point, 10-rebound performance.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"Defense was a huge emphasis for us yesterday. We felt like we didn't play very well defensively on Thursday night. We had to make sure we defended properly. I think we followed the defensive game plan today for the full 40 minutes, which is a good step for us." – Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"I'm really proud of Stella. She's obviously had a lot of accolades over the last couple of years and I told her today to enjoy this one because it's a big one. I played with or coached four or five of the top scorers. I know exactly how good some of the players to come through this program have been. For Stella to elapse that number this early in the season says something about her." – Milligan on Stella becoming the leading scorer in program history
 
- Rider has now won eight straight games against the Gaels.
- The Broncs tied a season-high with 81 points.
- It marked the most lopsided victory (44 points) for the Broncs under Milligan.
- Rider shot a season-high 53.8 percent (28-of-52) from the field. It was the second time this season that Rider knocked down over 50 percent of its shots. It was the team's best shooting performance since hitting 56 percent from the floor last February versus Saint Peter's.  
- The Broncs held Iona to just 6 percent (1-of-17) shooting from three-point range in the game.
- Rider held Iona to nine points or fewer in three of the four quarters. 
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Stella Johnson set the program record with 1,707th point. She currently has 1,730 points. Stella now holds the program career record in points, made field goals (626) and steals (280). On the day, Stella was 9-of-12 shooting. She also added six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
- Amari Johnson recorded her MAAC-leading seventh double-double of the year. She made her first six shots from the field on Saturday.
- Amanda Mobley had nine assists for the second straight game. Her nine dimes tied a career-high that she set against Niagara on January 2. Mobley also added four points and three rebounds.
- Lea Favre also scored in double figures for the Broncs. She had 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting. Since joining the starting lineup against LaSalle on December 7, she is averaging 10.8 PPG and shooting 61.5 percent (32-of-52) from the field.
- It marked the sixth straight game and the seventh time this season that the Broncs have had three players score in double figures. Rider is 7-0 when three players score 10 or more points in a game.
 
UP NEXT
Rider squares off Quinnipiac on Thursday, January 9, in a nationally-televised game on ESPNU. Opening tip is slated for 11:00 am at Alumni Gymnasium as the Broncs are looking for their first-ever win versus the Bobcats.