LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team was defeated, 46-34, by Wagner Saturday afternoon. The Broncs fall to 2-7 on the season, while the Seahawks improve to 3-6 on the year.
 
After the Seahawks jumped out to an 11-2 lead, the Broncs got a pair of threes from Aina Perez Mesquida (Manacor, Spain/IES CTEIB) to get back to within three, but Wagner would lead 13-8 after the opening 10 minutes.
 
Leading 13-10 early in the second, Wagner went on a 12-1 run over the next 7:14 before a three by Alena Cofield (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) sent the game to the half with Wagner up 25-14.
 
Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) and Emmy Roach (Littlehampton, Australia/Heathfield) hit back-to-back buckets out of the break to get Rider within seven at 25-18, and the Broncs would get within seven at two other points before Wagner scored four-straight to lead 36-25 entering the fourth.
 
Another three from Perez Mesquida followed by a bucket from Deb Okechukwu (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll [Harcum CC/CCBC – Essex]) got Rider to within 38-30 early in the fourth, but the Broncs would get no closer.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Very disappointed in our team's performance and effort. Wagner came in and they were a better team today. We have to take better care of the ball, we have to make better decisions. Aina was just a little more aggressive than she has been, but we need all five players on the court to be aggressive, and hopefully we get that from more people moving forward. Until today's game I thought we were trending in the right direction, so we need to get back to where we were before this game." – Head Coach Jackie Hartzell
 
- Wagner trims Rider's lead in the all-time series to 14-10.
- Perez Mesquida led the Broncs with a career-high 11 points, scoring double digits for the first time in her freshman season.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 25.9% (14-54) from the field, and 17.9% from three (5-28). The Seahawks shot 40.0% (20-50) from the field and 22.2% (2-9) from three.
- The Broncs had 12 assists on their 14 made baskets, led by three each from Perez Mesquida and Kristina Ekofo (Brussels, Belgium/ Établissement Des Soeurs De Notre Dame[North Dakota State University/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M]).
- Wagner held a 38-36 rebounding edge, but the Broncs had a 14-12 advantage on the offensive boards. Okechukwu led Rider with seven rebounds.
 
Up Next
The Broncs are back in action Friday to begin conference play, hosting Fairfield for a 6 p.m. tip.