Bethlehem, PA – The Rider University women's basketball team fought for the first half against host Lehigh at the Christmas City Classic Saturday afternoon, but a strong third quarter by the Mountain Hawks proved to be too much to overcome for Rider, falling 69-44. The Broncs drop to 0-4 on the season, while Lehigh improves to 5-1.
 
Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) kept the Broncs close in the opening period scoring nine of Rider's first 11 points. A basket by Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway) put the Broncs up 15-14, but a 7-0 run by the Mountain Hawks to end the quarter gave Lehigh a six-point lead after one.
 
Rider opened the second on a 6-2 run with baskets by Toussaint, Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh), and Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg [Buffalo]) to cut the lead to just two before Lehigh outscored the Broncs 5-0 over the final 3:44 of the half to go into the break, up 30-23.
 
A strength all season for Rider, the third-quarter was a struggle on Saturday. Lehigh opened the quarter on a 9-2 run, then leading 43-30, the Mountain Hawks hit back-to-back threes to extend the lead to 19 before finishing the third quarter up 58-34.
 
Lehigh pushed the lead as high as 30 before the Broncs closed the game on a 5-0 run to produce the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We were able to mix things up, changing our lineups. We switched between man and zone and threw everything at them, and I thought the kids handled it really well. If we just made some more shots in the first half it would have been a little bit different."
 
"Offensively, particularly in the first, second, and most of the fourth quarter, we ran our offense pretty well and got wide open looks. I wasn't disappointed with the looks we got today at all, we just didn't make them."
 
"It's going to take a little time, but it's continuing to grow every single day. We have confidence in our process, and we just need to keep doing what we're doing." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"My teammates were doing a good job of finding me early. We've talked about getting off to a good start and I just found myself open."
 
"We just need to work on stringing the quarters together so that we have that full 40. We saw in the first 20 what we're capable of, now we just need to put it all together." – Sophomore Forward Raphaela Toussaint
 
- Lehigh extends its lead in the all-time series to 20-10 and snaps a two-game Rider winning streak between the programs.
- The Broncs used a new starting lineup for the first time this season with Evans and Schiffer earning starts. For Evans, it is her fourth start at Rider. Schiffer cracks the lineup for the first time as a Bronc.
- Toussaint had the first double-double of the season for Rider, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
- Rider held Lehigh to 69 points, the Mountain Hawks lowest total of the season.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot just 30.0% (18-60) from the field, and 11.1% (3-27) from three. The Mountain Hawks shot 37.1% (26-70) from the field and 36.7% (11-30) from deep.
- The Broncs had seven assists on their 18 made baskets, led by four from Victoria Toomey (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore).
- Lehigh out-rebounded Rider 52-38, including a 14-7 advantage on the offensive glass.
- The Mountain Hawks were lethal in transition, holding a 22-4 lead in fast break points.
 
Up Next
- Rider remains at Lehigh for the consolation game in the Christmas City Tournament, where it will face either Columbia or Missouri.