Women's Basketball
Christmas City Classic
Saturday, November 27, 2021 at 1:00 pm
Rider Broncs (0-3) at Lehigh Mountain Hawks (4-1)
Location: Bethlehem, PA (Stabler Arena)
Tip: 1:00 pm
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: LehighSports.com
Twitter: @RiderWBB
 
What You Need To Know
- Saturday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
- The Broncs have struggled to an 0-3 start, and are looking to get back on track at the Christmas City Classic, hosted by Lehigh. The Broncs will take on the host Mountain Hawks, while the other half of the bracket features Columbia and Missouri.
 
- Lehigh leads the all-time series 19-10, but the Broncs have controlled the series as of late. Rider has taken seven of the last nine meetings, including the two most recent in 2015 and 2016. Robin Perkins and Kamila Hoskova led the Broncs to a seven-point victory in the last meeting.
 
- Lehigh is off to a 4-1 start this season, including an 84-68 win over fellow MAAC opponent Saint Peter's. The Mountain Hawks have scored at least 80 points in all four of their victories. Frannie Hottinger leads three Mountain Hawks, averaging double digit points this season. The junior is averaging 19.8 points and 7.0 rebounds this season. Emma Grothaus is averaging 14.2 points and a team-high 7.4 rebounds.
 
- After Saturday's game against Lehigh, the Broncs will play either Missouri or Columbia on Sunday. No matter who the opponent is, it will be the first time Rider would play either team. The Tigers are 4-0 on the season, with three of their four victories coming by double-digits. Aijha Blackwell is averaging a double-double of 15.3 points and 12.8 rebounds. The Lions are off to a 5-0 start to the year, behind the hot shooting of Abbey Hsu. The sophomore is averaging 18.8 points and shooting 40.4% (19-47) from long range.
 
- 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.
 
- Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway) has led the Broncs so far this season, averaging 15.3 points per game, third-most in the MAAC. Evans has scored in double figures in all three games this season, including a career-high 20, with 18 coming in the second half or overtime, against La Salle. Evans ranks 10^th in the nation this season, shooting 68.0% (17-25) from the field.
 
- Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) ranks fifth in the MAAC at 8.3 rebounds per game. In the game against La Salle, Toussaint pulled down a career-high 15 boards, five on the offensive end.
 
- 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) now has 305 career assists, good for 10^th in program history. Next on the list are Becky Hower '05 and Debbie Snyder '94, who each finished with 318.
 
- The Broncs have been dominant coming out of the halftime break. The Broncs have out-scored their opponents 57-34 in the third quarter this season, including a 16-0 run as part of an 18-4 quarter against La Salle.
 
- 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.
 
- Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg [Buffalo]) ranks second in the MAAC this season with a 2.25 assist to turnover ratio. In the Broncs' season opener against Penn State, the transfer junior dished out a career-high five dimes while giving up possession just once.
 
- After Saturday's game against Lehigh, the Broncs will play either Missouri or Columbia on Sunday. No matter who the opponent is, it will be the first time Rider would play either team. The Tigers are 5-0 on the season, with four of their five victories coming by double-digits. Aijha Blackwell is averaging a double-double of 16.4 points and 13.8 rebounds. The Lions are off to a 5-1 start to the year behind the hot shooting of Abbey Hsu. The sophomore is averaging 19.3 points and shooting 37.7% (23-61) from long range.