DUBLIN, IRELAND – The Rider University women's basketball team could not survive a large fourth-quarter run by Eastern Kentucky, Saturday, in the final game of the MAAC/ASUN Challenge, falling 85-64. The Broncs fall to 2-3 on the season, while the Colonels improve to 3-2
 
Down 12-11, midway through the first, Rider went on a 7-1 run, including four points from Victoria Toomey (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore). The Broncs led 18-16 after one.
 
The Broncs opened their largest lead of the game early in the second. Leading 20-19, Rider went on an 8-0 run with a Toomey layup, three pointer from Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood), and an old-fashioned three-point play by Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep). The Colonels immediately responded however, with a 14-0 run that lasted nearly six minutes and Eastern Kentucky led 35-30 at the half.
 
The Broncs heated up from behind the arc in the third, but could not overcome the deficit. Toussaint drained one, Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg[Buffalo]) drilled one, and Firebaugh and Maya Hyacienth (Nottingham, United Kingdom/City of London Academy) each hit two during the period, but Eastern Kentucky retained a 59-56 lead after three.
 
The Colonels pulled away in the fourth. Leading 62-58, Eastern Kentucky went on a 23-3 run, pulling away from the Broncs during a 7:00 stretch of the fourth quarter.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We just had too many turnovers and too many fouls. We gave up too many boards and just did a lot of things that are not really good formula for success."
 
"We shot the ball okay. We battled back, cut it to two, and then they went on a really tough run and we just didn't respond to that last one."
 
"The trip as a whole was absolutely amazing. If there's a bad part about this trip it was this game. We're very thankful for this opportunity, and this is going to be something our kids are going to remember for a long time." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
- Saturday's game was the first-ever meeting between Rider and Eastern Kentucky.
- The Broncs are now 2-2 all-time in the MAAC/ASUN Challenge.
- Three Broncs scored in double figures, led by Firebaugh's 17. Toomey and Toussaint each finished with 12.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 45.8% (22-48) from the field and 40.7% (11-27) from three. The Colonels shot 45.5% (30-66) from the floor and just 28.6% (6-21) from behind the arc.
- Eastern Kentucky held a 25-5 edge in points off turnovers thanks to 21 Rider turnovers to just seven Eastern Kentucky turnovers.
- The Colonels held a 17-4 advantage in second chance points behind a 36-28 edge on the glass.
- The Broncs had 14 assists on 22 made baskets, led by six from Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh).
 
Up Next
- Rider returns home following the Thanksgiving break, when the Broncs host Lehigh on Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. in the front half of a double-header with the men's team.