STATEN ISLAND, NY – Despite a career-high 23 points from Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway), the Rider University women's basketball team fell just shy in its comeback effort Tuesday afternoon. The loss snaps a two-game winning streak for the Broncs, who move to 2-6 on the season, while the Seahawks win their fifth-straight, improving to 6-1 on the year.
 
Wagner opened the game on a 7-0 run, hitting three of their first four shots. The Broncs battled back during the remainder of the first frame, getting four points from Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) and three from Evans to end the first down 14-8.
 
The Seahawks took control of the game in the second. Leading 20-10, Wagner went on a 9-3 run to go up 29-13, the largest lead of the game. Rider came back, scoring the final six points of the quarter, capped by a three-pointer from Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg) to close out the half, cutting the deficit to 29-19.
 
Both sides failed to gain traction in the third, swapping baskets for a majority of quarter. A late Wagner jumper had the Seahawks up 44-33 entering the fourth.
 
Down 48-35, Schiffer and Evans converted back-to-back old-fashioned three point plays to cut the lead to five. After Wagner built the lead back to 56-48, Schiffer hit a three, then Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) got a steal, leading to the Broncs hitting one of two from the line, but that would be as close as the Broncs would get.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We had a slow start today that ended up costing us. We can appreciate the fight to continue to come back, but ultimately we need to start games better."
 
"Lenaejha's been terrific all season. She is a young lady that has built herself into a player that is consistent and will hopefully rub off on everyone else. You always know what you're getting from her. She's done a great job and we can't ask for anything more."
 
"We're locked in to who we have due to injuries, and we need to do work earlier on the glass. We have to get better at and continue to fight for every ball." – Head coach Lynn Milligan

- Rider still leads the all-time series 14-9, the Wagner victory snaps a two-game Rider winning streak in the series.
- Evans' career-high 23 is her third 20-point game of the season. She leads the Broncs at 15.3 per game this year.
- Mobley had two assists in the game moving her past Becky Hower '05 and Debbie Snyder '94 for eighth in program history.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 38.6% (17-44) from the field, but just 16.7% (3-18) from three. Wagner went 53.5%% (23-43) from the field and 57.1% (4-7) from deep.
- The Broncs had eight assists on their 17 made baskets, led by three from Schiffer.
- Wagner out-rebounded Rider 31-17, including an 8-4 advantage on the offensive glass.
 
Up Next
- Rider returns home on Sunday for a game against Navy at 2 p.m.