LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – It was a proper start to the Jackie Hartzell era Thursday night as the Rider University women's basketball team defeated Lafayette, 65-58, in Alumni Gym. The Broncs win the season opener to improve to 1-0, while the Leopards fall to 0-2 on the young season.
 
After a three from Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) gave the Broncs an early 8-5 lead, the Leopards would counter with a 6-0 run to take the lead and hold a 13-10 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
 
Down 17-12 early in the second quarter, the Broncs went on a 13-0 run, started by a jumper from Aina Perez Mesquida (Manacor, Spain/IES CTEIB), then a triple from Emmy Roach (Littlehampton, Australia/Heathfield). Amany Lopez knocked down a shot, then back-to-back threes from Deb Okechukwu (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll[Harcum CC/CCBC Essex]) and Alena Cofield (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) capped what would be the largest run of the night. Lafayette countered with seven-straight to get within one before Kristina Ekofo (Brussels, Belgium/ Établissement Des Soeurs De Notre Dame[North Dakota State University/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M]) scored five straight for the Broncs. A 6-0 run by Lafayette would send the game to the half tied, 30-30.
 
 Leading 33-32 early in the third, the Broncs took control of the game with a 10-0 run, started by a three from McIver, then Roach and Cofield scored on fast-break layups after Rider steals, then Roach capped the run with a three that extended the lead to 11. Up 43-36 later in the quarter, the Broncs pulled away with a 12-0 run, started by a Cofield three. Following a Perez Mesquida bucket, Cofield drained another three, then back-to-back layups by Ekofo capped the run and gave Rider its largest lead of the game at 55-36. The Broncs led 55-38 after three.
 
With Rider holding a 57-38 lead early in the fourth, the Leopards went on their largest run of the game, scoring 10-straight to get back within single digits at 57-48, but the Leopards would get no closer than seven as the Broncs held on down the stretch to earn the win.
 
Quotes & Notes
"I'm just really, really proud of our team. We played really hard. I think we had some nerves early, then went on the run in the second quarter. We just talked about stepping it up defensively, and it was a little shaky at the end there, but I'm just so proud of our group for doing enough to win the game. Defensively in the second half, we really stepped it up, and offensively, this is pretty much our style. We played for the most part, pretty disciplined, so we would like for that to continue throughout the year. It was a little emotional when I first walked out, hearing the band and looking around. In some ways it felt surreal. But once the ball is thrown up, it's just a basketball game and to get a win in that atmosphere was really special."
 
"We've been working here since July, so it's been a long few months. We're excited for the first game, it's great to get that first win, and hopefully build off that with some positive momentum moving forward. I love the balance [of four players in double figures]. If you have one player a team can focus on, that makes it easier from a scouting standpoint. If you have multiple players who are capable of being in double figures, it just opens up more opportunities offensively." – Head Coach Jackie Hartzell
 
"We've been working hard all summer. So ceing at home and this being our first game, it feels great to win, especially with a new team, new coach, new energy, new culture. It feels great. [At the half, we talked about] the fact that it's 0-0 again, and just to keep our foot on the gas and just keep going. If we get down, come back and get a stop. That was our main focus, stacking stops." – Junior Guard Aliya McIver
 
 
"It feels special to be here and play in front of a new crowd with a new team. I love my teammates. I just came here to play hard, and if I can score good, but to rebound and defend, that's what I came here to do, and I did that today." – Graduate Forward Kristina Ekofo
 
- Rider cuts Lafayette's lead in the all-time series to 23-12.
- Hartzell becomes the third Rider coach in the Division I era to win in their Rider coaching debut joining Eldon Price, who defeated Saint Francis, 100-55, and Lynn Milligan, who topped Monmouth, 59-46.
- Ekofo and Okechuckwu made their Rider debuts with Cofield, Perez Mesquida, and Daniya Brown (Fairfax, VA/Bishop O'Connell) making their collegiate debuts.
- Ekofo led all scorers with 19 points in her Rider debut.
- Cofield scored 14 points in her collegiate debut.
- McIver tied a career-high with 11 points.
- Roach tied a career-high with 10 points, and set career-highs with five steals and three blocks.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 39.7% (25-63) from the field, and 43.5% from three (10-23). The Leopards shot 34.5% (20-58) from the field and 14.3% (2-14) from three.
- The Broncs had 14 assists on their 25 made baskets, led by four from Perez Mesquida.
- Both teams finished with 38 rebounds and had 11 offensive boards. Ekofo had nine rebounds, seven in the second half, to lead Rider.