WEST POINT, NY – Tied 55-55, Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) knocked down a jumper with 24.7 remaining and the Rider University women's basketball team hung on through a wild final sequence for a 59-57 victory over Army West Point Saturday afternoon. It's the second-straight victory for the Broncs, who improve to 2-5 on the season, while the Black Knights see their four-game winning streak come to an end, moving to 4-3 on the season.
 
After Firebaugh's jumper, Rider got a stop and Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) secured the rebound before knocking down both free throws to extend the lead to four. On the ensuing Army possession, the Black Knights missed a three-point attempt, but got the offensive rebound and were fouled on the made put back to head to the line with one second remaining. After Army intentionally missed and retrieved the offensive rebound, another Rider foul had the Black Knights at the line for two shots to potentially tie the game. But both shots were missed and the final second ticked off the clock.
 
Leading 8-7 midway through the first, Rider went on a 6-1 run capped by a lengthy inbounds pass from Toussaint to Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway), who converted the layup. Army fought back before the end of the quarter, cutting the lead to 15-14.
 
Down 22-19 in the second, Army went on a 10-1 run to secure a lead they would take back to the locker room. The Black Knights led at the half, 31-27.
 
The Broncs took control of the game in the third. Down 35-32, Rider went on a 15-2 run, with five different players scoring during the rally to take their largest lead of the day. Rider would take the 10-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
 
 
Down 51-41 with 7:07 remaining, Army hit back-to-back threes to kick start a 14-4 run, setting up the final sequence.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We're gutting it out and the kids are doing a really good job. We let it slip away a little bit, but Army is a relentless team and you saw that during the comeback. A lot of these situations are good growth opportunities. These are situations we are going to be in during our MAAC schedule."
 
"We did a good job of keeping them guessing. We took away a lot of their looks. That third quarter is one of the best quarters we've played all season. Every shot was contested and it showed in their shooting percentage."
 
"As we build more and more confidence offensively and more and more chemistry with our new players like Jess and [Lenaejha] playing more minutes, our confidence is growing. When you hit the gym and practice the shots you're going to take in the games, they're going to go in." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"We ran that play before and I refused the screen and got a layup, so I knew they'd be expecting that again. I came around the screen, was open, and took my shot."
 
"Our shots have been the right ones to take this season, and you'll see them start to go in as the season continues. You can see they are already starting to go in more and it's just about touch and release." – Sophomore Guard Makayla Firebaugh
 
- Rider takes the lead in the all-time series, 5-4. No team has ever won three-straight in the series. Army entered on a two-game streak between the schools.
- Toussaint had her second-straight and third double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
- Evans finished in double figures for the sixth time this season, scoring 11.
- Firebaugh led the Broncs in scoring with 17, her third time this season leading the team.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 43.6% (24-55) from the field, but just 16.7% (3-18) from three. More impressively, Rider held the Black Knights to 24.3% (18-74) from the field and just 19.2% (5-26) from deep.
- The Broncs had 13 assists on their 24 made baskets, led by six from Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh). Toussaint added a career-high four dimes.
- Army out-rebounded Rider 56-36, including a 32-9 advantage on the offensive glass.
- The Broncs continued their solid play in transition, holding a 12-2 lead in fast break points.
 
Up Next
- Rider remains on the road in the Empire State for a Tuesday matinee at Wagner. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.