NORTH ANDOVER, MA – The Rider University women's basketball team survived a wild fourth quarter, getting a game winning layup by Emilee Tahata (Springfield, Australia/Woodcrest State College[La Salle]) with just 3.8 seconds remaining to lift Rider to a 65-63 win over Merrimack. The Broncs improve to 5-15 overall and 3-8 in MAAC play, while the Warriors drop to 8-12 on the season and 4-7 in league play.
 
After the Broncs got the inbound to Gabby Turco (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood Crest[La Salle/Saint Anselm]), she drew an immediate double team and fired a pass over the top to the open Tahata, who converted the layup. Tahata then intercepted the inbound pass and the Broncs were able to run out the remaining time to secure the victory.
 
It was the Warriors who jumped out early, going up 6-0 early in the first, but quickly the Broncs responded. A bucket by Mariona Cos-Morales (Matadepera, Spain/IES Matadepera [Casper College]) followed by back-to-back scores from Tahata tied the game. Down 17-11, Turco scored five points during a 7-0 run that gave Rider an 18-17 lead, but a late Merrimack bucket gave the Warriors a 19-18 lead after the opening quarter.
 
Tied 20-20 early in the second, four different Broncs scored during an 8-0 run and the Broncs would lead 37-28 at the half.
 
After the Warriors cut the led to 37-32, a three from Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) and a bucket from Cos-Morales extended the lead back to double digits and Rider led 52-42 entering the fourth.
 
A three from Camryn Collins (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) extended the Rider lead to 13, its largest of the game. The Warriors responded with a 9-0 run to trim the lead to just four, then down 59-53, The Warriors scored what appeared to be six-straight points to tie the game before review ruled that a foot was on the line and kept the score 59-58. Collins would respond with a midrange jumper before Merrimack would tie the game on a three, then the Warriors took the lead on a layup with 45 seconds remaining before Cos-Morales made a put-back jumper to tie the score. The Broncs then forced a traveling violation to set up the decisive offensive possession.
 
Quotes & Notes
"Tough physical road win. Really proud of our effort and sticking to our game plan. When they made their run, we bent but didn't break.Our end of game execution was excellent. This team is playing together and continuing to grow."  – Head Coach Lynn Milligan
 
- Rider now leads the all-time series 2-0.
- Collins reached double figures for the eighth time this year with a career-high 15.
- Tahata finished in double figures for the third time this season, finishing with 13.
- Turco scored 12 points to reach double figures for the 15^th time this year, and seventh game in a row.
- After not playing a game decided by five points or less in in their first nine conference games, this was the Broncs second-straight MAAC game decided by five points or less, both wins.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 43.3% (26-60) from the field, and 33.3% (4-12) from three. The Warriors shot 42.4% (25-59) from the field and 11.1% (2-18) from three.
- The Broncs had 14 assists on their 26 made baskets, led by four from McIver
- Merrimack had a 38-33 advantage on the glass, including a 13-8 edge in offensive rebounds. Cos-Morales led the Broncs with nine rebounds.
- Collins had four steals and Cos-Morales finished with three blocks.
 
Up Next
Rider is back at home Thursday to play Sacred Heart at 6 p.m.