CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Despite leading after the opening quarter and out-shooting Virginia in the contest, the Rider University women's basketball team was defeated, 78-51, by the Cavaliers Wednesday night. The Broncs fall to 2-6 on the season, while the Cavaliers improve to 7-2.
 
The Broncs opened the game with a Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg) three to take an early lead and maintained the lead for a majority of the quarter. After Virginia took a 9-7 lead, Rider closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run, started by a Jamia Blake (Rock Hill, SC/South Pointe[UNC Asheville]) and-one and capped by another Schiffer three, to hold a 15-11 lead after 10 minutes.
 
The Cavaliers responded with an 11-2 run to open the second quarter. Taylor Langan (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township[Colgate/Millersville]) helped limit the damage, scoring six points in the final six minutes of the quarter as the Broncs trailed just 32-27 at the half.
 
After Langan opened the third quarter with a bucket to trim the lead to just three, the Cavaliers took control of the game with a 14-2 run. The Cavaliers led 57-40 after three quarters.
 
After scoring the final two points of the third, Rider opened the fourth with an additional 7-1 run, including a pair of buckets by Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) and capped by a three from Kaylan Deveney (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy), cutting the deficit to just 58-47 with 8:35 to play.
 
Following a Virginia timeout, the Cavaliers went on a 17-2 run over the next seven minutes to put the contest out of reach.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Obviously Virginia is a great rebounding team. We knew we would struggle with that. We were looking for a game in Virginia so Makayla could play close to home. She and Taylor are playing really well together. They have a really good connection and it's only going to get better."
 
"The score was not indicative of that game at all. We left some points out there. We executed the best we have all season. We really stuck with our game plan the entire time. We didn't shoot the ball well, but I liked the shots we took." – Head coach Lynn Milligan
 
- Virginia now leads the all-time series 6-0.
- Langan and Firebaugh each had 12 points to lead the Broncs. Langan reached double-figures for the seventh-straight game, with Firebaugh scoring double digits for the third time this season.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 42.3% (22-52) from the field, and 19.0% (4-21) from three, and the Cavaliers shot 38.2% (29-76) from the field and 25.0% (7-28) from three.
- The Broncs had 16 assists on their 22 made baskets, led by four each from Mariona Cos-Morales (Matadepera, Spain[Casper College]) and Sanaa Redmond (Philadelphia, PA/The Shipley School[Samford]).
- Virginia outrebounded Rider 60-22, including a 31-3 advantage in offensive boards. Firebaugh had six rebounds to lead the Broncs. The Cavaliers had 26 second-chance points to none for the Broncs.
 
Up Next
- Rider is now off until Dec. 16 when the Broncs begin conference play at Manhattan.