LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team used a 26-0 run spanning the first and second quarters and never looked back, defeating Saint Peter's, 59-48, Thursday night. The Broncs improve to 8-16 on the season and 5-10 in MAAC play, while the Peacocks drop to 6-19 overall and 3-13 in league games.
 
Trailing 7-6 with 7:51 to play in the first quarter, the Broncs went on the massive run, with the Broncs going 10-for-14 from the field and holding to Saint Peter's to 0-for-8 from the field with nine turnovers, not allowing a point until a layup with 7:33 remaining in the second. Makayla Firebaugh (Winchester, VA/James Wood) led the Broncs during the run, scoring seven points. Taylor Langan (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Township[Colgate/Millersville]) and Kaylan Deveney (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) each added five. Sanaa Redmond (Philadelphia, PA/The Shipley School[Samford]) scored four, Jessika Schiffer (Iserlohn, Germany/Deutschhaus Gymnasium Würzburg) scored three, and Mariona Cos-Morales (Matadepera, Spain/IESMatadepera[Casper College]) had two during the rally that put Rider ahead 30-7.
 
Rider continued the strong defense, going into the halftime break up 38-14.
 
Langan continued to dominate early in the second half, scoring five of Rider's first seven points to start the third quarter as Rider built the lead to 45-16. Late in the quarter, Langan found Firebaugh, then Cos-Morales for back-to-back buckets to put Rider on top 52-20, its largest lead of the game, before the Broncs led 52-24 with 10 minutes to play.
 
With Rider leading 55-29 early in the fourth, the Peacocks made one final attempt to get back in the game, going on a 13-0 run to close the gap to 55-42 with three and a half minutes remaining, but there was not enough time remaining to complete any comeback.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Really happy with the win, getting towards the end of February here. We wnt to win on our home floor, we want to play well on our home floor, so I was very happy with the outcome of the game. We played one quarter that got a bit sloppy, but I thought the first three quarters were about as good defensively as we've played all season."
 
"We know that if we can hold teams under 60, we've got a really good chance of winning the game. We have to continue to do that. Tonight, we were locked in on the game plan. We were locked in on KYP." – Head coach Lynn Milligan
 
"The third quarter has been a little bit of a struggle, but the past two and now going on our third game where we really focused on defense. I think it was the first time in a while where we started our defense strong in the third quarter." – Graduate Guard Taylor Langan
 
- Rider earns the season split with the Peacocks with both teams winning on their home court. Saint Peter's leads the all-time series 49-29.
- Langan finished with a game-high 20 points, the 20^th time she has reached double figures this season.
- Firebaugh added 13 points, reaching double digits for the 14^th time this season.
- Rider is 7-0 this season when holding their opponent under 60.

Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 43.1% (22-51) from the field, and 26.3% (5-29) from three, and the Peacocks shot just 32.7% (17-52) from the field and 16.7% (3-18) from three.
- The Broncs had 11 assists on their 22 made baskets, led by three each from Molly Lynch (Sea Girt, NJ/Rutgers Prep), Langan, and Redmond.
- Rider outrebounded Saint Peter's, 37-28. Both teams pulled down 10 offensive rebounds. Langan and Firebaugh each had eight boards to lead Rider.
- Cos-Morales led the Rider defense with four steals and two blocks.
 
Up Next
- Rider returns to action Saturday when the Broncs host Marist at 1 p.m. for National Girls and Women in Sports Day.