LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team was within striking distance of Iona through 20 minutes Thursday night, but a 17-0 run to start the second half was too much for the Broncs in a 68-44 setback. The Broncs fall to 4-10 on the season and 1-4 in MAAC play. The Gaels improve to 9-5 on the year, and 4-1 in league play.
 
The Broncs opened the game with an 8-2 run, including a pair of buckets by Victoria Toomey (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore). Iona fought back thanks to hot shooting from Kate Mager, who drained four threes in the quarter to put the Gaels up 19-17 after the opening quarter.
 
Down 21-17 early in the second, back-to-back threes by Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg[Buffalo]) and Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) sparked an 8-0 run that gave the Broncs back the lead. The Gaels had the response once again immediately responding with a 12-2 run, and Iona led 33-29 at the half.
 
Iona pulled away at the start of the second half, breaking the game open with a 17-0 over the first five minutes of the third quarter. The Gaels led 57-36 following the third.
 
Neither side could find a footing offensively in the fourth as the Gaels closed out the victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Obviously, we came out of the locker room and they threw that first punch early in the third quarter. We didn't respond to it. We didn't shoot the ball well again at home, which is disappointing."
 
"I liked our defense. I liked what we were doing. I thought we had some good reads, some good opportunities for steals where we could. I liked a lot of the stuff we were doing, just unfortunate it didn't carry over."
 
"It's a mindset. It's a 40 minute game. At this level, especially in the MAAC, because it's such a great conference, and so evenly matched, just dog fights every night. You've got to be in a situation where you can play 40 minutes, and there's going to be times that you're challenged." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"We need to be able to bounce back when people do get a bucket or two in a row. We have to bounce back and play better than what we just did."
 
"We came out of halftime with no energy. We just weren't ready to play like we did in the first half."
 
"If someone's not having a great night, and somebody else is having a good night, we definitely look to go to that person. If nobody's getting that, it's hard to get in that flow." – Graduate Guard Amanda Mobley
 
"We felt it in the second half, because they scored right away and we didn't have the answer to stop them."
 
"We have great nights when we find our flow and get the next pass and find the perfect shot. Then there are games like this one where we just don't get that shot because we rush a shot before." – Senior Guard Jessika Schiffer
 
- The Gaels take their sixth-straight over the Broncs, and now lead the all-time series 33-24.
- Schiffer led the Broncs with 12 points, the lone Bronc in double figures. It was her sixth time in double figures this season.
- The game is the second time in the past three games that the Broncs have played an identical 68-44 game.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot just 30.2% (16-53) from the field and 21.7% (5-23) from three. The Gaels shot 47.4% (27-57) from the floor, and were 40.0% (10-25) from behind the arc.
- Both teams snagged 33 rebounds in the game with the Broncs holding an 11-9 edge on the offensive glass. Toomey and Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) each had seven boards to pace Rider.
- The Broncs had nine assists on their 16 made baskets led by five from Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh).
- Iona had a 24-2 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Up Next
- Rider travels to Mount St. Mary's to face the Mountaineers for the first time as a MAAC opponent on Saturday. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.