WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Freshman guard Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) scored a career-high 26 points thank to hitting 6-of-8 shots from three-point range to lead the Rider University women's basketball team past hOURglass rival Monmouth, 61-35, on Saturday afternoon in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) action.
 
It was a stout defensive effort for the Broncs (4-14, 3-10 MAAC) as the guests held the Hawks (0-7, 0-3 MAAC) to fewer than nine points each of the final three quarter.
 
Trailing for most of the first half, sophomore Maya Hyacienth (Nottingham, UK/City of London Academy) beat the first half buzzer with a three-pointer to give the Broncs their first lead of the contest at 22-21 heading into the break.
 
After Monmouth scored the first bucket of the third quarter, Rider responded with a 13-0 run to take back the lead for good. In third, the Broncs outscored Monmouth, 23-8, behind knocking down five shots from beyond the arc.
 
Rider pulled away in the fourth as the Broncs held the Hawks to just six points on 3-of-15 shooting.
 
Firebaugh paced the offensive attack, while Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) was the other Bronc in double figures with 10 points.
 
QUOTES & NOTES

- Rider has now won five straight against Monmouth and eight of the last nine meetings.
- Rider knocked down 11 three-pointers and shot a season-best 52 percent from beyond the arc.
- It marked the second straight game and the fourth time this year that the Broncs have hit 10 or more three-pointers.
- The Broncs had 13 assists and 11 turnovers. It was their first game this year with more assists than turnovers.
- Rider had five blocks. It was the fifth straight game in which the Broncs had five or more blocked shots.
- The 35 points were the fewest allowed for the Broncs since February of last season when Rider held Monmouth to 25 points in Lawrenceville.  
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Firebaugh scored over 20 points for the first time in her young career. Her six made three-pointers were also a career-best.
- Amanda Mobley had 10 points, five assists and four rebounds. It was her fifth game this season with five or more dimes.
- Maya Hyacienth had nine points and six rebounds.
- Victoria Toomey had four points, nine rebounds and two blocks.
 
UP NEXT
Rider and Monmouth close out a weekend series on Sunday in West Long Branch.