NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Rider University women's basketball team used a dominant first half to build a lead that grew as large as 33 Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 92-70 victory over Niagara. The win completes a sweep of the Western New York road trip and moves the Broncs to 5-10 overall and 3-3 in MAAC play. The Purple Eagles fall to 5-8 on the season, and 2-3 in conference play.
 
After the Purple Eagles scored the game's opening basket, Rider responded with a 9-0 run, kicked off by a three from Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) and capped by back-to-back buckets by Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway). The Broncs continued to pull away led by Evans, who finished the quarter with 13 points on 6-for-7 shooting, helping Rider open up a 29-13 advantage.
 
It was much of the same for the Broncs in the second. Leading 30-18, Rider reeled of 12-straight points, capped by a three-pointer from Molly Lynch (Sea Girt, NJ/Rutgers Prep). After allowing just a single basket, the Broncs scored six-straight to close out the half and went into the locker room leading 48-20.
 
A three-pointer by Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg [Buffalo]) and a pair of free throws by Evans to open the third and give the Broncs their largest lead of the game. The Purple Eagles fought back in a high-scoring quarter as the Broncs led 69-45 after three.
 
Down 75-49 in the fourth, the Purple Eagles made their final run, outscoring the Broncs 11-4 to get the lead under 20. Niagara would get as close as 17, but Rider immediately responded with a 6-0 run to put the game away.
 
Quotes & Notes
 
"I'm just really proud of the kids, it was a great weekend. Two great wins on the road, and two wins where we put a game plan in and executed it. We did a really good job of getting the looks we wanted today."
 
"Lenaejha did a great job breaking the press today. She was really confident going to the rim. Molly knows her role, and she did a fantastic job of doing her role today. People sometimes forget about Molly because of our other guards, but she can go out there and execute."
 
"We're ever evolving as a team. We knew we wanted to go out and match their intensity. It was successful for us today, and we'll see what it looks like moving forward." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"It started with me knocking down shots, then my teammates just started finding me in open spaces. As we started knocking down shots, the bench provided a lot of energy and picked us up."
 
"I'm just proud to be a part of a group that is that special. To do something so well, I proud to be a member of this group and hope to join it again soon." – Senior guard Lenaejha Evans on being a part of the group that has scored 30 points in a game at Rider.
 
"I knew when Makayla went down, that I had to step up. Coach knows I can perform that way, and she gave me that confidence when I went in."
 
"Coach always tells me that I need to be ready. Not knowing when you're going to go in, you have to be ready at any time." – Sophomore guard Molly Lynch
 
- Rider evens the all-time series at 27-27. Rider has taken six of the last seven and 10 of the last 12 over the Purple Eagles.
- The Broncs scored over 90 points in a game for the first time since scoring 92 against Iona in 2014, and for the first time in regulation since scoring 95 against Princeton in 2002.
- Evans scored a career-high 30 points, becoming just the 14^th different player in program history to reach the mark.
- Toussaint also set a career-high, scoring 23 points.
- Lynch set career-highs in points (9), assists (7), and minutes (24).
- Anna Ekerstedt (Varberg, Sweden/Marks Gymnasiekola[Broward College]) had a career-high five rebounds.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 63.6% (35-55) from the field, a season high, and hit 46.2% (6-13) from three. Niagara shot just 38.0% (30-79) from the field, and 18.2% (4-22) from deep.
- The Broncs had 23 assists on their 35 made baskets, led by Lynch's seven.
- Rider outrebounded the Purple Eagles 32-28, but Niagara held a 15-5 advantage on the offense glass.
- Schiffer joined Evans and Toussaint in double figures with 12.
- Victoria Toomey (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) finished with eight points and five rebounds off the bench.
 
Up Next
- Rider will return home to face these same Purple Eagles on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The game is a makeup of the postponed game from earlier this season.