LOUDONVILLE, NY – On a three-pointer by Alena Cofield (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) with 1:15 left to play, the Rider University women's basketball team defeated Siena, 61-59, Thursday morning. The Broncs improve to 3-12 on the season, and 1-5 in MAAC play, while the Saints drop to 6-8 on the year, falling for the first time in league play, now at 4-1.
 
Cofield's three put the Broncs ahead 60-59. The Broncs ratcheted up the defense in the final minute, forcing two turnovers and a missed shot, to keep the Saints off the scoreboard in the final minute and preserve the victory.
 
Deb Okechukwu (Washington, DC/Archbishop Carroll [Harcum CC/CCBC – Essex]) got the Broncs going early, scoring seven of Rider's first 10 points, to give the Broncs and early 10-5 lead. Rider would remain on top for the rest of the quarter, leading 16-12 after 10 minutes.
 
After no scoring for the first five minutes of the second quarter, the Saints would take the lead with a 7-2 run. Down 23-20, Rider would answer with four-straight points, capped by a baseline jumper late in the quarter by Emmy Roach (Littlehampton, Australia/Heathfield) to lead at the break 24-23.
 
Rider would extend its lead to 30-25 early in the third, but the Saints would counter with a 10-0 run, turning the five-point Bronc advantage into a five-point deficit. A three by Roach and a basket by Cofield tied the game at 35, and the Broncs extended the run to 13-4, to help take a 43-40 lead into the final quarter.
 
With Rider up 46-40, Siena went on a 6-0 run, that later stretched to 17-4, giving the Saints their largest lead of the game at 57-50. Down 59-54, Kristina Ekofo (Brussels, Belgium/ Établissement Des Soeurs De Notre Dame[North Dakota State University/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M]) knocked down a three off the feed from Cofield to trim the deficit to two, then following a stop on the other end, the Broncs broke the Siena press and Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) found a wide open Cofield for the biggest shot of the freshman's young career.
 
Quotes & Notes
"It feels great. I'm really proud of our players and our fight at the end. We've been close in a couple of these games, and to pull one out, I'm just really proud. Our players showed me a lot today, this is a tough place to play and to keep fighting the way we did hopefully there's more wins to come." – Head Coach Jackie Hartzell
 
"I just really wanted to win. We kept the energy high, even when we were down, and I knew we were going to come back. I'm just really hyped. We did a really good job communicating, and focusing on the next play." – Freshman Guard Alena Cofield
 
- Rider trims Siena's lead in the all-time series to 41-18.
- Cofield set a career-high for the second-straight game with a game-high 18. It was the third career game for the freshman in double figures.
- Ekofo reached double figures for the 10^th time this season, finishing with 15.
- Roach scored 11 to reach double-digit points for the fifth time this year.
- Okechukwu added 10 points for her eighth double-digit scoring game of the season. She added a career-high 13 rebounds for her third double-double of the year.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 34.8% (23-66) from the field, and 22.7% (5-22) from three. The Saints shot 30.4% (21-69) from the field and 24.1% (7-29) from three.
- The Broncs had 17 assists on their 23 made baskets, led by a season-high eight from McIver.
- Rider was dominant on the glass, holding a 53-46 rebounding edge, including an 18-16 advantage on the offensive boards.
 
Up Next
The Broncs are back in action Saturday, continuing the road trip at Marist. Tip is scheduled for 2 p.m.