NEWARK, NJ – Sophomore guard Maya Hyacienth (Nottingham, UK/City of London Academy) scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Rider University women's basketball team past in-state rival NJIT, 57-53, on Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action.
 
The Broncs (1-8) erased a double-digit deficit to earn a hard-fought win over the Highlanders (1-5).
 
Under a minute into the fourth quarter, freshman Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the guests a 42-41 edge. The bucket gave Rider its first lead since early in the opening quarter and the Broncs would maintain the advantage throughout the remainder of regulation.

The Bronc advantage would swell to as many as six at 50-44 with three and a half minutes left in the game following a trey from Hyacienth.
 
NJIT battled back to cut the deficit to just one at 50-49, but senior Daija Moses (Toronto, Ontario/Henry Street) answered with her fifth three-pointer of the game to give Rider a 53-49 lead with 1:27 left.
 
Over the final minute of the contest, the Broncs hit four free throws to hold on for the victory.
 
It was a balanced offensive attack for Rider as a season-high three players scored in double figures. Hyacienth had a game-high 20, while Moses added a career-best 15 points. Firebaugh was the other Bronc in double figures with 11 points, including the first four of the fourth quarter for Rider.

QUOTES & NOTES

- Rider leads the all-time series with NJIT, 4-1.
- The Broncs have won three straight games against the Highlanders.  
- Rider knocked down a season-high 10 three-pointers in the win.
- The Broncs scored 19 points in the fourth quarter. It was their second-highest point total in a quarter this season (21 in the fourth quarter against Manhattan on December 11).
- Three different Rider players had two blocked shots apiece.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Hyacienth hit 6-of-12 FG and 5-of-6 FT. She also added four rebounds and one assist. She also hit a career-high three three-pointers.
- Moses set new career-bests in points (15) and three-pointers made (5). She added five rebounds, two steals, one block and one assist.
- Firebaugh scored in double figures for the second game in a row and the fourth time this season. She also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds and chipped in two steals. It was her fourth straight game with two or more steals.
- Off the bench, Teresa Wolak played a career-high 24 minutes. She pulled down a career-best six rebounds and added three points.
- Lenaejha Evans continued her steady play with six points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal.
 
UP NEXT
Rider returns to MAAC play on Friday, January 1, with home tilt against Fairfield that is slated to begin at 7:00 pm inside Alumni Gymnasium.