POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Behind 23 points from Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood), the Rider University women's basketball team defeated Marist 60-54 Thursday night. The Broncs improve to 6-17 on the season, and 3-11 in MAAC play. The Red Foxes fall to 10-12 on the year, and 6-7 in league play.
 
Leading 13-10 late in the first quarter, Marist went on a quick 6-0 spurt, taking a 22-14 lead after the opening quarter.
 
The Broncs opened the second quarter with back-to-back baskets by Raphaela Toussaint (Kingston, Ontario/Lincoln Prep) and Firebaugh, trimming the deficit to 22-18 as the Broncs held Marist without a point for the first five minutes of the quarter. A late three by Firebaugh made it 29-26 Marist at the half.
 
Down 36-32, Rider used a 12-0 run, including a three by Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg[Buffalo]) that gave the Broncs their first lead of the game. Amanda Mobley (Coopersburg, PA/Southern Lehigh) chipped in five points during the key run. The Broncs led 46-42 after the third.
 
Following a Marist triple that cut the lead to 48-45, Rider pulled away with a 6-0 run on baskets by Schiffer, Victoria Toomey (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore), and Toussaint. Leading 56-52 with under three minutes remaining, Mobley crossed over a defender and drilled the step back jumper that effectively iced the game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
Quotes & Notes
"If you've watched us, you know we've been turning the corner and doing some good things. We felt like we were in a good place with what we've been doing. It all came together today. We really locked in on the game plan."
 
"I thought we did a really good job of staying in the moment and not letting a mistake linger or missed shot linger. We did a really good job of just being in the now."
 
"It wasn't just a run, it was the way we made the run. We went down, we executed. We made some great passes, some great next passes, we found the open teammate and everybody stepped up and made shots."
 
"Go Birds!" – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"We needed it, and we knew we needed it. We fought for all 40 minutes today and it was a team effort."
 
"This is going to bring momentum and I just need to get in the gym and get my shots up. It's on me to get some game rhythm shots and keep that momentum over the next four games."
 
"Defense wins games. We say that in practice and that's what we've been working on." – Junior Guard Makayla Firebaugh
 
- Rider cuts into Marist's now 47-20 lead in the all-time series.
- Firebaugh's 23 points led the Broncs, her team-high 16^th game in double figures this season.
- Toussaint scored 12 points and added 10 rebounds for her team-leading third double-double of the year.
- Including today's game, five of the Broncs' six wins this season have come on the road.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 44.2% (23-52) from the field, and 25.0% (5-20) from three. The Red Foxes shot 32.7% (17-52) from the floor, and were 27.8% (5-18) from behind the arc.
- Rider had a 38-29 edge on the glass, with a 9-7 advantage in offensive rebounds. Toussaint's 10 boards led the Broncs.
- The Broncs had 10 assists on their 23 made baskets, led by four from Mobley.
 
Up Next
- Rider is back in action Sunday, when the Broncs return home to begin a four-game home stand against Manhattan. Game time is set for 1 p.m. with the National Girls and Women in Sports Day clinic taking place prior at 11 a.m.