NEW ROCHELLE, NY – The Rider University women's basketball team dropped a road MAAC game Thursday at Iona, 65-58. The Broncs fall to 8-18 on the season and 6-11 in the MAAC. The Gaels earn the season sweep over the Broncs and improve to 9-13 on the year and 7-10 in league play.
 
Similar to the first meeting between the teams, Iona jumped out early, opening the game on a 9-0 run bookended by threes from Olivia Vezaldenos. The Broncs hung around as Lenaejha Evans (Conway, SC/Conway) scored seven in the opening quarter to remain in striking distance, trailing 15-9 after one.
 
The Broncs fought back for a majority of the second. Trailing 20-11, Rider went on a 6-0 run spanning 7:50, cutting the deficit to just three on a lay-up by Evans. A late three by Iona sent the Gaels into the locker room up 23-17.
 
The offenses came alive in the third. Trailing 27-17, Rider got back-to-back-to-back threes by Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg[Univ. at Buffalo]), Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep), and Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) to cut the lead to a single point. Up 30-28, Iona went on a 9-0 run that the Broncs would never recover from. The Gaels held a 46-40 lead into the fourth.
 
The Gaels opened the final frame on an 8-2 run that put the game on ice. A final fury by the Broncs got the game as close as six, but the clock became the team's enemy.
 
Quotes & Notes
 
"It was a really even game after the opening quarter. We did a good job taking care of the ball today. Overall, we just didn't shoot the ball well enough in the first half."
 
"We just need to worry about Saturday now. We'll be ready to play, that's for sure."
 
"You hold a team scoreless for as long as we did in the second quarter, you have to reward yourself. When we start hitting shots on offense, we need to keep up that sense of urgency on defense."  – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
- Iona wins its fourth-straight over the Broncs, extending its lead in the all-time series to 31-24.
- Toussaint had her fifth double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 36.7% (22-60) from the field, and was 40.9% (9-22) from three. Iona was 35.6% (21-59) from the field, and 29.2% (7-24) from deep.
- The Broncs had 15 assists on their 22 made baskets, led by five from Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh).
- Toussaint led four Broncs in double figures with her 14 points. Evans and Schiffer each had 11, and Mobley finished with 10.
- The Gaels out-rebounded Rider 41-39, and Iona had a 10-9 edge on the offensive glass.
 
Up Next
- Rider is back in action Saturday for its final home game of the season, a 2:00 p.m. tip against Saint Peter's. The day is also Rider's celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day.