LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team was defeated Saturday afternoon in Alumni Gym, 66-53. The Broncs fall to 3-15 overall and 1-8 in MAAC play, while the Bobcats improve to 16-2 on the season and 8-1 in league play.
 
The Bobcats took control of the game early, scoring just five seconds into the contest and opening on a 15-2 run. Rider would get six-straight points with three each from Camryn Collins (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) and Gabby Turco (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood Crest[La Salle/Saint Anselm]), but Quinnipiac would still lead 18-8 after the opening quarter.
 
After a Turco three to open the second quarter, Quinnipiac took a complete stranglehold of the game, outscoring the Broncs 18-2 over the final nine and a half minutes of the half to take a 36-13 lead into the break.
 
Down 43-21 midway through the third, the Broncs began to mount a comeback. Turco had six points during an 11-2 run as the Broncs closed to within 49-32 entering the fourth.
 
In the fourth, the Broncs continued to fight. Trailing 60-44, Rider got to as close as 11 with five-straight points, started by back-to-back buckets from Collins, but the Broncs were unable to get any closer.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We're disappointed with our first-half performance. Quinnipiac came out really hot, which we anticipated, but we have to do a better job of keeping them out of their comfort zone, which we did a better job of in the second half."
 
"The way you chip away at a big lead is by playing defense. There's no 15-point shot out there. You've got to defend, and then things will start to happen. We really locked in on the defense in the second half to try to give ourselves some better opportunities offensively." – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
"At the beginning of the season, I didn't really know what to expect. I was nervous, but now I know what is expected, and how to work for that, to be able to put myself in the position to perform the way I'm expected to." – Freshman Forward Winner Bartholomew
 
- Quinnipiac extends its lead in the all-time series to 24-4.
- Turco scored a team-high 20 points to reach double figures for the 13^th time this year.
- Winner Bartholomew (Abuja, Nigeria/Day Secondary School Birgi) scored a career-high 17 points, including 15 in the second half. It was her third game in double digits this season.
- Collins reached double figures for the sixth time this year with 10.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 30.2% (19-63) from the field, and 37.5% (6-16) from three. The Bobcats shot 40.0% (22-55) from the field and 23.5% (4-17) from three.
- The Broncs had nine assists on their 19 made baskets, led by three from Mariona Cos-Morales (Matadepera, Spain/IES Matadepera)
- Rider had a 40-35 advantage on the glass, including an 18-11 edge in offensive rebounds. Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) led the Broncs with six rebounds.
 
Up Next
Rider is back in action Thursday at Saint Peter's for a 7 p.m. contest.