LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced the women's basketball schedule for the 2025-26 season with each team playing 20 league games, 10 each at home and on the road. For the year, Rider will play all teams in the league twice with the exceptions of Fairfield and Quinnipiac on the road and Canisius and Niagara at home.
 
All games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks and start times will be announced at a later date.
 
Fairfield
Friday, Dec. 19 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Fairfield, 50-13
Winning Streak: Fairfield, 11
Last Meeting: Fairfield, 72-46 (Feb. 20, 2025; Fairfield, CT)
2024-25 Record: 28-5 (19-1 MAAC)
Quickly: The Stags defeated the Broncs twice on their way to winning the MAAC Championship last season, eventually falling to Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Fairfield will be one of two teams the Broncs do not travel to for the 2025-26 season.
 
Sacred Heart
Sunday, Dec. 21 * Fairfield, CT
Saturday, Jan. 17 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Sacred Heart, 2-1
Winning Streak: Rider, 1
Last Meeting: Rider, 72-57 (Feb. 6, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 9-20 (5-15 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs won the only matchup with the Pioneers last season, a 15-point victory in Alumni Gym, that capped a three-game winning streak. The Broncs shot 60.4% from the field in the game, led by 17 points on 8-for-9 shooting by Winner Bartholomew.
 
Iona
Monday, Dec. 29 * New Rochelle, NY
Thursday, Jan. 22 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Iona, 36-27
Winning Streak: Iona, 2
Last Meeting: Iona, 65-60 (Feb. 13, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 11-21 (8-12 MAAC)
Quickly: The Gaels defeated the Broncs twice in 2024-25. In the game in Alumni Gym, Rider used a 19-5 third quarter to tie the game entering the final 10 minutes, and even lead early in the final frame, but Iona broke open a tie game with a 4-0 run in the final minute to secure the win. Gabby Turco led Rider with 22 points in the setback.
 
Merrimack
Thursday, Jan. 1 * Alumni Gym
Saturday, Feb. 7 * North Andover, MA

Series History: Rider, 3-0
Winning Streak: Rider, 3
Last Meeting: Rider, 64-61 (Feb. 27, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 14-17 (9-11 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs swept the Warrior last season, getting a layup from Emilee Tahata with 3.8 seconds remaining to break a 63-63 tie, followed by Tahata stealing the inbounds pass to secure the win in the game at Merrimack. In the return trip, a Camryn Collins three with 40 seconds remaining broke a 57-57 tie and the Broncs held on down the stretch to complete the sweep.
 
Quinnipiac
Saturday, Jan. 3 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Quinnipiac, 24-4
Winning Streak: Quinnipiac, 8
Last Meeting: Quinnipiac, 66-53 (Jan. 25, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 28-5 (18-2 MAAC)
Quickly: Quinnipiac won both meetings last season, but the Broncs had their best chance at a victory in the MAAC opener in Hamden. Rider closed to within four at 58-54 in the fourth, but a three-pointer that beat the shot clock buzzer proved to be the dagger for the Bobcats.
 
Siena
Thursday, Jan. 8 * Loudonville, NY
Thursday, Feb. 26 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Siena, 41-17
Winning Streak: Siena, 6
Last Meeting: Siena, 68-49 (Feb. 8, 2025; Loudonville, NY)
2024-25 Record: 17-14 (14-6 MAAC)
Quickly: Winner Bartholomew had 12 points and Mariona Cos-Morales added 11, but the Broncs fell in the only meeting last season. They Saints will be replacing the players responsible for all 68 points scored by the Saints in last year's game.
 
Marist
Saturday, Jan. 10 * Poughkeepsie, NY
Saturday, Feb. 14 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Marist, 49-23
Winning Streak: Marist, 1
Last Meeting: Marist, 67-55 (Jan. 18, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 16-15 (11-9 MAAC)
Quickly: These teams played just once last season, a 12-point Marist victory in Alumni Gym. The good news for the Broncs this year is Marist will be without Morgan Lee, who led the team with 22 points and nine rebounds in the game last season, as the now-senior transferred to Clemson.
 
Manhattan
Monday, Jan. 19 * Riverdale, NY
Thursday, Feb. 5 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Manhattan, 38-21
Winning Streak: Manhattan, 1
Last Meeting: Manhattan, 81-40 (Jan. 4, 2025; Riverdale, NY)
2024-25 Record: 16-15 (9-11 MAAC)
Quickly: Manhattan jumped out to a 17-point lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back in the only meeting last season.

Saint Peter's
Saturday, Jan. 24 * Jersey City, NJ
Thursday, Feb. 12 * Alumni Gym

Series History: Saint Peter's, 50-30
Winning Streak: Saint Peter's, 1
Last Meeting: Saint Peter's, 55-54 (Feb. 15, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 11-19 (9-11 MAAC)
Quickly: Gabby Turco scored 16 points, including a three with 7:43 remaining to give Rider a lead it would not relinquish. In the return trip, Turco hit a three to tie the game with 5.4 seconds remaining, but a foul call on the Peacocks' ensuing possession led to a 1-for-2 trip at the line that allowed Saint Peter's to escape with a one-point win.
 
Mount St. Mary's
Thursday, Jan. 26 * Alumni Gym
Saturday, Feb. 28 * Emmitsburg, MD

Series History: Mount St. Mary's, 23-7
Winning Streak: Mount St. Mary's, 4
Last Meeting: Mount St. Mary's, 76-49 (Feb. 22, 2025; Lawrenceville, NJ)
2024-25 Record: 15-16 (12-8 MAAC)
Quickly: The Mount swept the season series last year, winning by six in Emmitsburg before defeating Rider by 27 in the return trip to Lawrenceville.
 
Canisius
Thursday, Feb. 19 * Buffalo, NY

Series History: Canisius, 37-19
Winning Streak: Canisius, 3
Last Meeting: Canisius, 77-61 (Mar. 6, 2025; Buffalo, NY)
2024-25 Record: 10-21 (9-11 MAAC)
Quickly: The Golden Griffins secured a sweep of the Broncs last season, holding Rider to just 13 points in the second half of the first meeting. In the return trip, Gabby Turco had 18 points, but the Golden Griffins shot 50% from the field to earn the win.
 
Niagara
Saturday, Feb. 28 * Niagara University, NY

Series History: Niagara leads, 34-28
Winning Streak: Niagara, 1
Last Meeting: Niagara, 67-65 (Mar. 8, 2025; Niagara University, NY)
2024-25 Record: 3-25 (2-18 MAAC)
Quickly: The Broncs secured their largest win of the season, a 79-59 victory, in Lawrenceville behind 24 points from Gabby Turco and a strong team mentality with 23 assists on 27 made baskets. The Purple Eagles would return the favor with a 67-65 win on their home court. Aliya McIver recorded her first career double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds in the season finale.