LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Three players scored in double figures as the Rider University women's basketball team knocked off Quinnipiac, 75-59, on Thursday in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action in front of a sellout crowd at Alumni Gymnasium.
 
The Broncs (10-2, 3-0 MAAC) won their seventh straight contest, while the Bobcats (4-8, 1-2 MAAC) lost for the second time in their last three games.
 
Rider opened the second-half on a 14-1 run over the first six and a half minutes of the third quarter to break open a one-score contest. Senior guard Stella Johnson (Denville, NJ/Morris Catholic) drove to the basket to give the Broncs a 46-30 lead late in the frame that they would not relinquish.
 
In the fourth quarter, the Broncs stretched their lead to as many as 20 late in regulation. Over the final 10 minutes of action, Rider shot over 81 percent (9-of-11) to close out the Bobcats.
 
Stella had a game-high 25 points to pace the Broncs, while Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) tied a career-high with 18 points and senior forward Lea Favre (Vevey, Switzerland/Lycee Jeanne D'Arc) chipped in 15 points of her own.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"It was a terrific day. Hats off to our Athletic Department, Karin Torchia and the whole University for supporting this cause. For us to have a sellout for the first time in program history, for it to be on national television and for us to get our first win against Quinnipiac it was a great day all-around. We really appreciate all the schools coming. The kids were fantastic. I think it got louder as the game went on which was awesome." – Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"I'm super proud of our effort, particularly in that second half. We really came out defensively and did a fantastic job. We made a couple of adjustments and everyone really bought into them. When our defense formulates the way we want it to it usually leads to some offensive looks that we like. That's what we saw in the fourth quarter." – Milligan
 
- It marked the first-ever victory for the Broncs against Quinnipiac.
- It was the largest crowd (1,700) in Rider women's basketball history.
- Rider is now 1-1 all-time in nationally-televised contests. Both games have come against Quinnipiac.
- Rider shot a season-high 54.8 percent from the field (34-of-62).
- The Broncs have shot over 50 percent in back-to-back MAAC games.
- Rider is now 10-2 overall. It marks just the second time (1993-94) that the Broncs have won 10 of their first 12 games since joining Division I prior to the 1982-83 season.
- Rider is now 5-0 at home this season. It is the first time since the 1996-97 season that the Broncs have won their first five home tilts.
- The Broncs committed a season-low nine turnovers and forced 17 Quinnipiac miscues.
- It marked the seventh straight game and eighth time this year that Rider has had three players score in double figures. The Broncs are 8-0 in those game.
- Rider had 15 assists. The team is 6-0 this year when they have more assists than turnovers.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Stella Johnson had 25 points thanks to knocking down 11-of-19 from the field. It was Stella's third game this season hitting 11 or more shots from the field. No other player in the MAAC has more than one. She also added seven rebounds, three steals and two assists.
- Amanda Mobley tied her career-high in points thanks to hitting 8-of-15 shots from the field. When Mobley scores in double figures this season, Rider is 4-0. She also dished out a game-high four assists. Mobley was 2-of-5 shooting from three-point range.
- Lea Favre scored in double figures for the sixth time in the last seven games. Since joining the starting lineup against La Salle on December 7, Favre is averaging 11.4 PPG and she's shooting over 60 percent (39-of-64) from the field.
- Off the bench, Daija Moses had four points and three assists. Lexi Stover also provided a spark off the bench with five points on 2-of-3 shooting.    
 
UP NEXT
Rider returns to action on Thursday, January 16, with a road conference showdown against MAAC preseason-favorite Marist. Opening tip is slated for 7:00 pm in Poughkeepsie.