LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team was defeated -by Niagara Thursday night, 81-62. The Broncs fall to 5-12 on the season and 2-6 in MAAC play, while the Purple Eagles improve to 8-11 overall record and 5-4 in league games.
 
Trailing 4-0, Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg) scored five points during a 6-0 that gave Rider its lone lead of the contest. The Purple Eagles immediately responded with an 11-0 run and took a 21-11 lead after the first quarter.
 
Leading 30-19 midway through the second quarter, Niagara went on a 15-1 run and led 45-22 at the half.
 
Down 48-22, Rider fought back with a 10-0 run, capped by back-to-back threes by Schiffer. Trailing 57-37, Mariona Cos-Morales (Matadepera, Spain/IES Matadepera[Casper College]) scored four-straight points to start a 6-0 run, but the Purple Eagles countered and opened the lead back up to 65-45 after three quarters.
 
Trailing 77-54, Rider outscored Niagara 8-4 down the stretch to produce the final score.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We're never happy when we lose on our home floor. We played much better in the second half than the first, but when push came to shove they had quite a few offensive rebounds and second chance opportunities." – Head coach Lynn Milligan
 
"No matter how much pressure is on you in practice, you still dn't know until you experience it. [In practice we have them for 30 minutes, instead of a full 40 minute game of nonstop pressure, nonstop battling, just physicality the whole time." – Senior Guard Makayla Firebaugh
 
- Niagara wins their fifth-straight in the series and extends its lead in the all-time series to 32-27.
- Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood), scored a team-high 16 points, her ninth game in double figures this season.
- Schiffer finished with 13 to reach double digits for the fifth time this year.
- Cos-Morales tied a career-high with nine points off the bench.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 44.9% (22-49) from the field, and 37.5% (6-16) from three, and the Purple Eagles shot 41.6% (32-77) from the field and 22.7% (5-22) from three.
- The Broncs had 16 assists on their 22 made baskets, led by four each from Taylor Langan (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township[Colgate/Millersville]) and Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains).
- Niagara won the rebounding battle, 43-34, including a 22-9 advantage on the offensive glass. Sanaa Redmond (Philadelphia, PA/The Shipley School[Samford]) had seven boards to lead Rider.
- Rider blocked nine shots in the game, led by a career-high four from Kaylan Deveney (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy).
 
Up Next
- Rider returns to action Saturday when the Broncs visit Saint Peter's at 2 p.m.