NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – On a layup with 2.8 seconds remaining, the Rider University women's basketball team was defeated, 67-65, at Niagara Saturday afternoon. The Broncs close out the season 7-22 overall and 5-15 in MAAC play, while Purple Eagles improve to 3-25 on the season and 2-18 in league play.
 
Tied 65-65, Niagara was inbounding in the front court and Jordyn Williams got free to receive the inbound pass and make the game-winning layup. The Broncs would get a look from three as time expired, but the shot would not fall.
 
Early on it was Niagara jumping out to an 8-2 lead before Emilee Tahata (Springfield, Australia/Woodcrest State College[La Salle]) scored four-straight points and Gabby Turco (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood Crest[La Salle/Saint Anselm]) scored to tie the game at eight. With Rider leading 13-11, Niagara ended the quarter on a 5-0 run to lead 16-13 after 10 minutes.
 
The Broncs would open the second on an 8-3 run, capped by a Tahata layup to retake the lead at 21-19. Down 25-24, Rider went on a 7-0 run with five of the seven points coming at the free throw line, taking a 31-25 lead. The Broncs would take a 33-30 advantage into the half.
 
Trailing 35-30, the Purple Eagles would come back to take the lead with an 8-1 run early in the third, but the Broncs would counter. Down 40-38, Rider outscored Niagara 12-4 over a four-minute stretch to pull ahead 50-44. The Purple Eagles would close out the quarter on an 8-1 run to lead 55-53 entering the fourth.
 
Both offenses struggled early in the fourth with neither team scoring for nearly four minutes and just a single field goal between the sides for over seven minutes. Winner Bartholomew (Abuja, Nigeria/Day Secondary School Birgi) would hit a jumper with 2:43 remaining, tying the game 59-59. Down 61-59, Rider took the lead on back-to-back baskets by Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) and Turco. The Broncs then broke a 63-63 tie on a Bartholomew basket with 1:04 remaining. The Purple Eagles would tie the game with just over 26 seconds remaining and the Broncs had an open look at the basket in the final five seconds, but the layup would not fall allowing Niagara to grab the rebound and set up the final sequence.
 
Quotes & Notes
- Niagara earns the season split and leads the all-time series 34-28.
- Bartholomew led the Broncs with 16 points, her 11^th game in double figures this season.
- Turco added 12 points for her 22^nd game this season in double figures.
- McIver finished with 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for her first career double-double.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 42.0% (21-50) from the field, and 10.0% from three (1-10). The Purple Eagles shot 36.5% (23-63) from the field and 45.5% (5-11) from three.
- The Broncs had 16 assists on their 21 made baskets, led by five from Turco.
- Rider had a 43-31 advantage on the glass, with both teams grabbing 10 offensive rebounds. McIver's 12 boards led the Broncs.