HAMDEN, CT – The Rider University women's basketball team was defeated on the opening day of MAAC play Thursday, falling at Quinnipiac, 70-62. The Broncs fall to 2-8 on the season, while the Bobcats improve to 9-1.
 
After falling behind 3-0, The Broncs went 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from deep during a 12-3 run to take an early advantage, led by four points by Winner Bartholomew (Abuja, Nigeria/Day Secondary School Birgi). The Bobcats then countered closing out the opening 10 minutes with a 15-0 run to lead 21-12.
 
The run was extended to 19-0 to open the second before Rider went on a 6-0 run, including a pair of buckets from Kaylan Deveney (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) as the Broncs remained within striking distance, entering the break trailing 38-28.
 
In the third, Bartholomew took over offensively, scoring Rider's first eight points of the quarter, but the Bobcats had the answer, maintaining the edge. At 44-38, the Bobcats went on a 7-0 run and would take a 51-40 edge into the fourth quarter.
 
Down 53-40 early in the fourth, Rider went on a 14-5 run, capped by an and-one layup from Mariona Cos-Morales (Matadepera, Spain/IES Matadepera) to trim the lead to just four at 58-54. The Broncs would be unable to get any closer as the Bobcats did enough down the stretch, including a three that beat the shot clock buzzer in the final two minutes to secure the victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We came to play. The game plan was on point, and they players executed the game plan, there's just a couple of possessions on both ends of the floor that we want back. In the fourth quarter, we got shots by the right people in the right places. We really just want that three by Martin at the buzzer back, that was a back breaker going from five to eight."
 
"Winner is getting comfortable. She is working hard and wants to be coached. Her teammates want to get her the ball in the right places, and she is becoming a threat not just on the block, but with her jumper as well." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
- Quinnipiac extends its lead in the all-time series to 23-4.
- Bartholomew scored in double figures for the second-straight game and second time this season finishing with a team-high 15 points.
- Gabby Turco (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood Crest [La Salle/Saint Anselm]) added 12 points to reach double figures for the eighth time this season.
- Emily Tahata (Springfield, Australia/Woodcrest State College[La Salle]) scored 10 points off the bench to score in double figures for the second time this year.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 48.0% (24-50) from the field, and 30.8% (4-13) from three. The Bobcats shot 41.1% (23-56) from the field and 36.8% (7-19) from three.
- The Broncs had 13 assists on their 24 made baskets, led by six from Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains).
- Both teams secured 27 rebounds with Quinnipiac holding a 10-6 edge in offensive boards. Cos-Morales led Rider with five in the contest.
 
Up Next
Rider is off for the remainder of 2024, returning to action on Jan. 2 when the Broncs host Fairfield for a 6 p.m. tip