LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – Decisive runs in both the second and third quarters by Fairfield were too much for the Rider University women's basketball team to overcome Thursday night, ultimately falling 67-44. The Broncs fall to 5-14 on the season and 2-8 in MAAC play, while the Stags, who are receiving votes in both the AP and the Coaches Polls, improve to 18-1 overall and a still perfect 10-0 in league games.
 
Trailing 18-15, the Stags went on a 15-1 run, during which the Stags went 7-for-7 from the field during the four-and-a-half-minute stretch. Fairfield would lead 35-23 at the break.
 
Down 37-23 early in the third, Rider climbed back into the game with a 9-2 run, including five points from Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) and four by Taylor Langan (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township[Colgate/Millersville]). The Stags would close out the third on a 9-0 run to lead 50-33 after three quarters.
 
The Broncs had trailed midway through the first quarter 10-5, when layups by Langan and Kaylan Deveney (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) kick-started a 9-3 run, capped by a three from Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg) and another basket by Langan that briefly put the Broncs in front before Fairfield regained the lead at 15-14 at the end of the first.
 
Buckets by Langan and Deveney to open the second quarter would give Rider its largest lead of the game at 18-15, but would be followed by the decisive runs.
 
Quotes & Notes
"There was a lot of good that came out of that game based on the work we've been doing. The reasons why we lost tonight were pretty obvious. We turned the ball over too much and didn't get enough shots at the basket. We just got a little sloppy with some things, but I know those are things we can correct." – Head coach Lynn Milligan
 
"No matter what play is called we need to be ready to get in our position. We need all five of us in order to beat this game, whether its rebounding, boxing out, scoring, attacking, defense, or communicating." – Graduate Guard Taylor Langan
 
- Fairfield extends its lead in the all-time series to 46-13.
- Langan had a team-high 15 points, reaching double-figures for the 16^th time this season.
- Firebaugh added 10 points, her 11^th game in double figures this season.
- Lynch scored a career-high 12 points off the bench.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 36.6% (15-41) from the field, and 16.7% (3-18) from three, and the Stags shot 45.0% (27-60) from the field and 13.6% (3-22) from three.
- The Broncs had nine assists on their 15 made baskets, led by two each from Deveney and Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains).
- Rider won the rebounding battle, 35-30, but Fairfield held an 11-9 advantage on the offensive glass. Langan had nine boards to lead Rider.
- Fairfield held a 23-2 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Up Next
- Rider returns to action Saturday when the Broncs visit Quinnipiac at 1 p.m.