LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team topped in-state rival Monmouth, 51-41, Thursday night in Alumni Gym. The Broncs improve to 7-16 on the season, and 5-9 in MAAC games, while the Hawks drop to 13-10 on the year and are 8-6 in league play.
 
Trailing 10-9 in the final minute of the opening quarter, Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) drained a three before Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) found Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway) for an easy layup to put Rider up 14-10 after one.
 
Trailing 18-12, Monmouth scored seven-straight points to briefly take the lead, but the Broncs immediately answered. Molly Lynch (Sea Girt, NJ/Rutgers Prep) drove and kicked to wide open Firebaugh, who drained the corner three that put Rider up 21-19 at the half.
 
The Broncs pulled away late in the third. Leading 28-27, Firebaugh made a runner in the lane, then Victoria Toomey (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) made back-to-back buckets that had Rider ahead 34-27 entering the fourth.
 
The rally continued into the fourth. Toomey made it six-straight individually, and the Broncs would eventually extend the run to 10-0 spanning the two quarters. The Broncs would extend the lead as large as 15 on their way to the victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
 
"Everyone did their part tonight. We put on the board tonight, 'Do your job.' and we did that tonight. I was really happy with our defensive effort tonight."
 
"Defense wins. We'll find a way to get buckets. I thought we executed really well tonight and got some wide open looks, but they didn't fall. When that happens you have to ride your defense."
 
"It's nice to win here. I thought we had a great crowd, I thought the energy was in the building, and I thought we played really well in front of our home fans." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"This time I can tell, playing the same team twice, just slowly getting there. Everyone is capable of it, but being here four years, just knowing the pressure and being able to stay calm, and helping my teammates stay calm and collected."
 
"We're getting ready for playing back-to-back-to-back in the MAAC Tournament, and even though we have rest days we can get used to getting our bodies recovered and ready to play those back-to-backs." – Senior guard Amanda Mobley
 
- Rider earns the split with the Hawks for the year and narrows Monmouth's lead to 30-24 in the all-time series.
- The 41 points allowed by the Broncs is the fewest in a game this season.
- Evans scored in double-figures for a team-high 16^th game this season.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 42.6% (23-54) from the field, and was 21.1% (4-19) from three. Monmouth was just 26.7% (16-60) from the field, and 20.0% (6-30) from deep.
- The Broncs had 13 assists on their 23 made baskets, led by four each from Mobley and Firebaugh.
- In addition to Evans' 16, Firebaugh was in double figures with 14.
- Rider out-rebounded Monmouth 41-34, though the Hawks had a 12-7 edge on the offensive glass. Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) led all players with 12 rebounds.
 
Up Next
- Rider is back in action Saturday, when it hosts Canisius at 2 p.m. for Senior Day.