LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team was defeated Monday night, 74-52, by Navy in Alumni Gym. The game was the season opener for both squads.
 
Mariona Cos-Morales (Matadepera, Spain/IES Matadepara[Casper College]) scored on Rider's first offensive possession, giving Rider its first lead of the new year. Tied 4-4, Navy used a 12-2 run, helped by seven Rider turnovers during the run for what would be a decisive lead.
 
Navy would score the first four points of the second quarter, extending the lead to 20-6. Trailing 28-8, the Broncs got a trio of free throws around a Gabby Turco (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood Crest[Saint Anselm/La Salle]) three for their largest run of the contest. Navy would lead 37-18 at the half.
 
In the third, Camryn Collins (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) heated up, scoring eight points in the frame as the Broncs and Mids both scored 17 in the quarter.
 
The Broncs continued the strong offensive play into the final quarter, but the Mids had answers for every Rider basket. After a three by Amany Lopez (Springfield, MA/South Shore Christian Prep) trimmed the deficit to 63-46, Navy answered with a bucket followed by a three to end any hope of a Rider comeback.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We're disappointed, losing on our home court. I think it really came down to our rebounding and our turnovers. Those are things that we will be locked in on for the next week, but I thought our second half was much better than our first. Our young kids, for their first game, all the freshmen did a pretty good job. They scored 23 of our 52 points, so I was happy with the way they responded in that second half." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"We want to come out here and win on our home court. There was a big crowd there. We want to make them happy, we want to make ourselves happy. Coach preaches 'we over me.' and I felt like we really stuck together even though we were down so much. This is a stepping stone in the process, so this isn't what we will see all season." – Senior Guard Gabby Turco
 
"We train so hard to prepare for this game, so it sucks to get a loss, but this will be good for us going into next week. I wanted to do things better, help my teammates a little bit better, but this was a good test to see, stepping up to the collegiate level." – Freshman Guard Camryn Collins
 
- The Mids extend their lead in the all-time series to 7-1.
- Turco led the Broncs in her Rider debut, scoring a Division I career-high 21 points. She was joined in double figures by Collins, who scored 10 in her collegiate debut.
- Turco, Collins, and Emilee Tahata (Springfield, Australia/Woodcrest State College[La Salle]) each started in their official Rider debuts. Emmy Roach (Littlehampton, Australia/Heathfield), Winner Bartholomew (Abuja, Nigeria/Day Secondary School Birgi), Lopez, and Jocelyn Chavez (Surprise, AZ/Valley Vista) also made their first appearances in Rider uniforms.
- Rider's freshmen combined for 23 points with 21 of those scored in the second half.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 32.1% (17-53) from the field and 21.4% (3-14) from three. The Mids had 40.0% (28-70) shooting from the field and were 33.3% (8-24) from three.
- The Broncs had nine assists on their 17 made baskets, led by four from Sanaa Redmond (Philadelphia, PA/The Shipley School[Samford]).
- Navy outrebounded Rider 47-33, with the Mids holding a 16-6 edge in offensive boards. Roach led the Broncs with six rebounds on the night.
- Rider committed 23 turnovers to 18 for Navy.
 
Up Next
- Rider take to the road for the first time this season with a trip to LIU on Nov. 12