HACKENSACK, NJ – Despite leading by seven with less than three minutes remaining, the Broncs were defeated, 64-59, at Fairleigh Dickenson Sunday afternoon. The Broncs fall to 2-4 on the year, while the Knights improve to 1-5.
 
The Broncs got off to a quick start, as Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) was 4-for-4 from deep to start the game, helping the Broncs build a 16-8 lead midway through the first quarter. After a three by the Knights, the Broncs scored four-straight to take their largest lead of the game at 20-11. Rider led 20-13 after the opening 10 minutes.
 
The second quarter belonged to the Knights, who stifled the Rider offense, outscoring the Broncs 18-2 in the frame to go into the break leading 31-22.
 
Down 36-28, the Broncs tied the game with an 8-0 run, including three points each by Firebaugh and Sanaa Redmond (Philadelphia, PA/The Shipley School[Samford]). Tied 42-42 late in the third, Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) sliced to the basket, making a tough lay-up in traffic and adding the free-throw to put Rider ahead three going into the fourth.
 
Kaylan Deveney (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) sandwiched a pair of layups around a basket by Jamia Blake (Rock Hill, SC/South Pointe[UNC Asheville]) to open the fourth, opening up the lead to 51-42. Firebaugh made a pair of free throws with 2:49 remaining to put Rider ahead 57-50, but FDU went on a 10-0 run over the next two minutes, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 3-for-3 from the line, and would hit enough free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Besides the second quarter, I thought it was a pretty good game. We had some good runs, and then we had a couple of lapses. That was just the ebb and flow of this game. Everything was all even except for that second quarter. Overall, we were solid defensively, we just needed those stops in the fourth quarter. In the half court we defended them well, but that five point swing of transition three and transition layup is really what changed the end of the game."
 
"When Mick is shooting like she is today, confident and within the offense, catching ready to shoot, and moving without the ball, we're a better team. I'm happy with what she was able to do today." – Head coach Lynn Milligan
 
- Rider's lead in the all-time series is cut to 13-12.
- Firebaugh led all players in the game with 23 points, her third game in double figures this season. Her six made threes tied a career-high.
- Taylor Langan (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township[Colgate/Millersville]) added 12 points, reaching double-figures for the fourth-straight game.
- Deveney finished with 10 points, her second game reaching double-digits this season.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 43.8% (21-48) from the field, and 42.9% (6-14) from three, and the Knights shot 43.8% (21-48) from the field and 38.5% (10-26) from three.
- The Broncs had 14 assists on their 21 made baskets, led by four from Sanaa Redmond (Philadelphia, PA/The Shipley School[Samford]).
- FDU outrebounded Rider 27-26, including a 7-6 edge in offensive boards. Blake grabbed four rebounds to lead the Broncs.
 
Up Next
- Rider returns home for a game Saturday against Monmouth at 2 p.m.