Women's Basketball
Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 12:00 pm
Rider Broncs at La Salle Explorers
Location: Philadelphia, PA (Tom Gola Arena at Trumark Financial Center)
Tip: 7:00 pm
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoExplorers.com
Twitter: @RiderWBB
Tickets: La Salle Tickets
 
What You Need To Know
- Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
- The Broncs were down just five to Penn State through three quarters in their season-opener on Thursday before ultimately falling 83-69. Sophomore Forward Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) scored a career-high 21 points in the loss. Senior guard Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway [Pensacola State College]) had 13 points off the bench, her fourth career game scoring in double figures.
 
- The Explorers lead the all-time series over the Broncs 9-3, but Rider has won the three most recent meetings, all by double digits. These teams last met during the 2019-20 season, when Stella Johnson '20 had a near triple-double with 22 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists to lead the Broncs to a 70-43 win.
 
- Rider has made five-straight appearances in the MAAC Semi-finals. The Broncs were named MAAC Champions for 2019-20 for the first time in program history.
 
- A year ago, Rider finished 8-18 overall and earned the no. 7 seed in the MAAC Basketball Championship. The Broncs ended the season strong, going 6-4 in their final 10 games. In the MAAC Championship, the Broncs knocked off 10^th-seeded Monmouth 44-41 before upsetting second-seeded Quinnipiac 62-50.
 
- Rider was picked to finish fifth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Broncs return all but one member of last year's team.
 
- Reigning MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year and Second-Team All-MET guard Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) earned Preseason Second-Team All-MAAC honors. The sophomore averaged a team-high 11.0 points a season ago along with 4.4 rebounds. Toussaint was tabbed Preseason Third-Team All-MAAC. A fellow member of the All-Rookie Team a season ago, Toussaint averaged 7.5 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 47.6% from the field and 47.8% from three. 
 
- Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) had eight assists against Penn State, moving her into a tie with Manon Pellet '16 at 297 career dimes. Next on the list are Becky Hower '05 and Debbie Snyder '94, who each finished with 318.
 
- Junior Victoria Toomey (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) started all 23 games she appeared in last season for Rider. She led the Broncs, averaging 5.6 rebounds per game. Classmate Maya Hyacienth (Nottingham, United Kingdom/City of London Academy) earned 23 starts in 25 appearances last year. Hyacienth heated up down the stretch, scoring in double figures in four of the Bronc's final five games.
 
- La Salle went 12-14 last season, defeating Duquesne in the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament before falling to top-seeded Dayton. This season, the Explorers fell in their season opener on Tuesday to Coppin State 73-70.  Three explorers were in double figures led by Kayla Spruill. Spruill had a double-double with 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.