PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Rider University women's basketball team saw La Salle hit a pair of free throws with just 1.2 seconds remaining as the Explorers earned a 55-54 win over the Broncs Wednesday night. The Broncs fall to 1-3 on the season, while the Explorers improve to 2-3.
 
Following the free throws that provided the Explorers with their first lead in the game since 15-14 with 6:55 to go in the second, the Broncs got a final look at the basket, but Camryn Collins (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) could not get her shot to fall as time expired.
 
Rider opened the game strong from deep with Collins and Gabby Turco (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood Crest[Saint Anselm/La Salle]) connecting from distance to give Rider an early 8-5 edge. The Explorers would later counter with a 6-0 run to end the quarter, taking a 13-10 lead after 10 minutes.
 
The Broncs ramped up the aggression in the second, forcing the Explorers into foul trouble and getting into the bonus with 5:53 remaining in the second. This helped the Broncs go on a 10-0 run with the help of four free throws, turning a 15-12 deficit into a 22-15 lead. The Broncs would extend the lead to as large as 29-17, extending the run to 17-2. The Broncs would take a 33-25 lead into the half, with Winner Bartholomew (Abuja, Nigeria/Day Secondary School Birgi) scoring seven points in the second quarter.
 
Turco scored six points in the first four-plus minutes of the third quarter, helping Rider push the lead to 43-31. But La Salle had an answer, closing out the quarter on a 14-3 run to trim the Rider lead to just 46-45 with 10 minutes to play.
 
Neither side would score in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter before Emilee Tahata (Springfield, Australia/Woodcrest State College[La Salle]) broke the scoring drought with a pair of free throws. Mariona Cos-Morales (Matadepera, Spain/IES Matadepera[Casper College]) would score six points as the Broncs maintained a 54-50 edge with 2:52 remaining. A La Salle three pointer with 1:34 remaining would trim the Rider lead to one and set up the game's final sequence.
 
Quotes & Notes
"The third quarter we struggled to execute. We took some rushed shots, but really it just comes down to our turnovers. We have to do a better job with our fundamentals and make sure we don't put ourselves in these situations."
 
"We had a lot of different lineups in there today based on foul trouble. We had a lot of kids in there playing extended minutes who haven't played a lot yet. So I think there's a lot of good that's going to come out of this as far as experience." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
- La Salle extends its lead in the all-time series to 12-3.
- Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) tied a career-high with five assists in the contest.
- Bartholomew set a career-high with six rebounds.
- Turco led Rider with 14 points and Collins added 10 as both reached double figures for the fourth-straight game to start the season.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 36.5% (19-52) from the field, but just 15.4% (2-13) from three. The Explorers shot just 28.1% (18-64) from the field and 33.3% (8-24) from three.
- The Broncs had 10 assists on their 19 made baskets, led by McIver's five.
- Rider outrebounded La Salle 44-41, but the Explorers held a 16-11 edge in offensive boards. Bartholomew and Tahata each had six rebounds to pace the Broncs.
 
Up Next
Rider continues their road trip with another A-10 opponent in VCU on Sunday. Tip is scheduled for 1 p.m.