LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team struggled offensively Thursday night, falling to Siena, 68-44, in Alumni Gym. The Broncs fall to 3-9 on the year and 0-3 in MAAC play, while the Saints improve to 7-5 overall and 1-1 in league play.
 
Both offenses started slow, combining to go 3-for-21 from the field over the opening six minutes. Tied 5-5, Siena went on a 9-2 run and led 14-9 at the end of the first.
 
Down 16-9, Rider climbed back into the game with a 7-2 run, including four points by Emily Strunk (Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg), trimming the Saints lead to just two. Siena led 30-25 at the half.
 
Siena broke the game open late in the third. Leading 39-33, the Saints closed out the quarter on a 14-2 run and the Broncs would not close to within single digits for the remainder of the game.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We played a bad basketball game. We got beat down the floor, we got beat to the ball on rebounds, and we didn't shoot the ball well, so it's kind of the perfect storm."
 
"It's unusual for us. With the talent we have, I'm a little surprised that we had a shooting night like tonight. Most of the shots we took were good shots within the offense."
 
"We've got to trust what we're doing. We've got to trust that the shots we're getting and the people we're getting shots for are going to be able to put it in the basket." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"We have to hit our shots and we know that. We can't hang our heads over this loss. It's disappointing, but we have to get over it. We have to come to practice and be ready to work."
 
"We need to play together as a team and play our style of basketball and have each other's backs. We had each other's backs tonight, but we didn't play our style of basketball to the way we can." – Junior Guard Makayla Firebaugh
 
- Siena extends its all-time lead in the series to 37-17.
- Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) led Rider with 10 points, the lone Bronc in double figures. Firebaugh has scored in double-figures in three-straight games and leads Rider with nine games in double figures.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot just 23.1% (15-65) from the field and 9.1% (2-22) from three, both season lows. The Saints shot 40.9% (27-66) from the floor, and 43.8% (7-16) from behind the arc.
- Siena held a 53-38 advantage on the glass, with a 16-14 edge in offensive rebounds. Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) had eight boards to lead Rider.
- The Broncs had 10 assists on their 15 made baskets led by five from Mobley.
- Siena had four players score in double figures, including a pair off the bench, leading to a 29-12 lead in bench points.
 
Up Next
- Rider tips for the final time in 2022 with a trip to Saint Peter's on Saturday. Game time in Jersey City is noon.