LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team was defeated by Iona Thursday night, falling 48-40. The Broncs drop to 4-15 on the season, and 2-8 in MAAC play, while the Gaels improve to 12-8 on the year, and 5-5 in league play.
 
The Broncs jumped out to an early 6-2 lead with buckets from Deb Okechukwu (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll[Harcum CC/CCBC-Essex]), Kristina Ekofo (Brussels, Belgium/ Établissement Des Soeurs De Notre Dame[North Dakota State University/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M]), and Aina Perez Mesquida (Manacor, Spain/IES CTEIB). The Gaels would counter with a 10-0 run to lead 12-6 after 10 minutes.
 
Iona would extend the run to 13-0 with a three to start the second quarter, but with the Gaels leading 19-10, Alena Cofield (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) scored four-straight points before a three-from Amany Lopez (Springfield, MA/South Shore Christian Prep) trimmed the deficit to 19-17 at the half.
 
Perez Mesquida and Ekofo scored to open the second half, extending the run to 11-0 and giving the Broncs a 21-19 lead. With Rider up 23-21, the Gaels went on a 7-0 run. Threes by Lopez and Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) got Rider within one at 34-33 and Iona led 36-33 entering the fourth.
 
A 6-1 run by the Gaels to start the fourth to push the advantage to 42-34. Rider responded with a 6-0 run, getting a three by Kaylan Deveney (Medford, NJ/Life Center Academy) and an old-fashioned three-point play by Lopez to make it a one-possession game with 3:38 to play, but Iona would outscore the Broncs 6-0 in the remainder of the contest to secure the win.
 
Quotes & Notes
"We played pretty well on the defensive end. Any time you hold a team as good as Iona to 48 points, you feel like you give yourself a chance to win the game, and unfortunately we couldn't get it going on the offensive end. We're just trying to learn from each experience, we'll work to improve on late game situations for the next time." – Head Coach Jackie Hartzell
 
"I'm just letting the game come to me, and not force anything. I just stay prepared by watching what's going on and knowing my time is going to come. In the beginning, it was hard learning a whole new system, but as time went on, I just keep giving it my all, and come to practice with more energy." – Sophomore Guard Amany Lopez
 
- Iona extends its lead in the all-time series to 38-27.
- Lopez led Rider with a career-high 11 to finish with double digit points for the first time in her career.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 30.2% (16-53) from the field, and 23.5% (4-17) from three. The Gaels shot 28.0% (14-50) from the field and 25.0% (5-20) from three.
- The Broncs had nine assists on their 16 made baskets, led by three from Lopez.
- Rider held a 40-33 advantage on the glass, including a 10-7 edge on the offensive boards. Ekofo and McIver each had eight boards to pace the Broncs.
 
Up Next
The Broncs are back in action Saturday, visiting Saint Peter's for a 2 p.m. tip.