NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Rider University women's basketball team fell on the road to Iona, 56-41, on Friday night at the Hynes Center in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action.
 
The Gaels (1-4, 1-2 MAAC) used a 13-0 second-quarter surge to build a lead they would not relinquish.
 
The Broncs (0-7, 0-3 MAAC) opened the second half on a 7-0 run and held the hosts scoreless for the first seven minutes of the third quarter to cut the deficit to just five. In the early stages of the quarter, Rider forced six Gael turnovers.  
 
Iona responded with another run of its own The Gaels used a 16-2 spurt from the end of the third to midway through the fourth to build back a double-digit advantage.
 
It was a balanced offensive attack for the Broncs with three players scoring seven or more points. Freshman guard Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) paced the Broncs with nine points, while Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway [Pensacola St. College]) added eight points off the bench.

QUOTES & NOTES
"It was a tough game for us as we continue to find our offensive flow. Our defense continues to keep us in games, but we are turning the ball over tooo much at the other end. This group will continue to play hard and learn as we go. Injuries are hurting us as we work through our combinations. We are resilient and we will get it fixed." - Rider Head Coach Lynn Milligan 

- Iona leads the all-time series with Rider, 28-24.
- The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Broncs against the Gaels.
- Rider committed a season-high 28 turnovers.
- The Broncs had four blocks. It was the third time this season that Rider has swatted four or more shots.
- All nine Rider players that saw action in the game scored points.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Firebaugh knocked down 4-of-10 shots from the floor. She also added a career-high six rebounds to go along with two assists and two steals.
- Evans had eight points off the bench for the second game in a row. Like Firebaugh, she also set a new career-best with seven rebounds.
- Thrust back into the starting lineup, Raphaela Toussaint scored seven points.
- Daija Moses set a new career-high with five steals.
- Freshman Anna Ekerstedt provided a spark off the bench with four points, two rebounds, two blocks and one steal.
 
UP NEXT
Rider and Iona close out a weekend of MAAC hoops action on Saturday, December 19. Opening tip is slated for 2:00 pm.