LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Rider University women's basketball graduate guard Taylor Langan (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township [Colgate/Millersville]) and men's basketball senior Mervin James (St. Thomas, USVI/Pebblebrook [North Alabama]) have been selected McGriff Insurance Services Rider Athletes of the Month for December.

Langan averaged 14.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 31.8 minutes per game for the Broncs. She scored in double figures four times in five games, including a 31-point, 16-rebound outburst in an overtime victory at Lehigh on Dec. 30, leading to MAAC Player of the Week honors on Jan. 2. She shot 46.8 percent (29-62) from the field for the month and 66.7 percent from long range. Through December, Langan ranks fourth in the MAAC in both scoring (14.3 ppg.) and rebounding (7.7 rpg.).

James averaged 20.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 blocks per game over seven games for the Broncs in December. He shot 48.6 percent from the floor and 78.7 percent from the free-throw line in leading Rider to wins over Stonehill and Delaware. He topped 20 points in four of seven games and scored 15 points or more in all seven games. He posted a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds on Dec. 1 at Siena and went for a high of 27 points against Fairfield on Dec. 3. His 25 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals led the Broncs to an overtime victory at Delaware on Dec. 20, while he also posted a double-double of 20 points and a season-high 12 rebounds as Rider fell just short in overtime to Penn on Dec. 23. He leads the MAAC at 19.2 points per game for the season.