LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team was out-scored 21-9 in the fourth quarter Thursday night by Manhattan, falling to the Jaspers 56-49. The Broncs dropped to 6-15 overall and 4-8 in MAAC play, while Manhattan improved to 14-9 on the year, and 9-5 in the MAAC.
 
After the Broncs opened the game with three from Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg [Buffalo]), the Jaspers responded with seven-straight points, including six from Courtney Warley. The lead would not be long-lived as Rider tied the game 10-10 after the opening period.
 
Manhattan took control for a majority of the second, opening up a 24-16. Rider would close the half on a 9-2 run, trailing by just a single point, 26-25, at the half. All of Rider's points during the run came on triples by Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood).
 
The Broncs would extend the run to begin the second half on a pair of Firebaugh free throws and a three by Schiffer. Leading 32-30, Rider bracketed threes by Anna Ekerstedt (Varberg, Sweden/Marks Gymnasiekola [Broward College]) and Schiffer around a bucket by Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway) to extend the lead to double digits. Manhattan closed out the quarter on a 5-0 run to cut the Broncs' advantage to 40-35 entering the fourth.
 
The run extended into the final frame with Manhattan taking the lead, 41-40. Trailing 43-41, Manhattan went on an 8-2 run over the next six minutes. With the Jaspers holding a three-point lead with under a minute remaining, Dee Dee Davis made a scrambling pass to Warley as the shot clock was expiring Warley heaved up a prayer from the free-throw line that banked in, and the Broncs would never again get within five points.
 
 
Quotes & Notes
 
"We made a couple too many mistakes. Too many turnovers, too many second chances for them. We put ourselves in a position to win the game, and we didn't get it done."
 
"The fourth quarter, we got outscored 21-9. We got to do a better job of getting stops in the fourth quarter."
 
"Tips and steals are what Anna does, and she shot it well as well. That's a good sign for us." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"This team is Rider heart and soul and that is what this team is forever. Everybody has that fight in them and wants to win." – Sophomore guard Makayla Firebaugh
 
"I'm feeling more comfortable now. Being there from the jump and getting up to game speed right away." – Junior Forward Anna Ekerstedt
 
- Manhattan has won four-straight over the Broncs and extends their lead to 34-20 in the all-time series.
- Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) had four assists to move her past Rider Hall of Famer Linda DiGiuseppantonio '87 for seventh in program history.
- Ekerstedt had a career-high five steals and had her second double-digit scoring game of the season, both against the Jaspers.
- Victoria Toomey (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) had a season-high four blocks.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 30.0% (18-60) from the field, and was 34.5% (10-29) from three. Manhattan was held to just 29.2% (19-65) from the field, and just 7.7% (1-13) from deep.
- Manhattan had a 17-3 edge in made free throws.
- The Broncs had 11 assists on their 18 made baskets, led by Mobley's four.
- Firebaugh led the Broncs with 17 points, she was joined in double-digits by Schiffer's 12 and Ekerstedt's 10.
- Rider was out-rebounded by the Jaspers 56-32, including a 21-6 edge on the offensive glass.
 
Up Next
- Rider is back in action Saturday, when it travels to in-state rival Saint Peter's at 2 p.m.