LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University women's basketball team kept its MAAC Tournament hopes alive, defeating Marist, 56-43, Saturday afternoon. The Broncs improve to 6-19 on the season, and 4-12 in MAAC play, while the Red Foxes fall to 10-17 on the year, and 7-10 in league play.
 
Rider started strong, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead on baskets by Alena Cofield (Langhorne, PA/Neshaminy) and Emmy Roach (Littlehampton, Australia/Heathfield). With Rider up 8-6, the Red Foxes would go on a 9-0 run and lead 15-10 after the opening quarter.
 
Dwon 19-14, Kristina Ekofo (Brussels, Belgium/ Établissement Des Soeurs De Notre Dame[North Dakota State University/Northeastern Oklahoma A&M]) and Aliya McIver (White Plains, NY/White Plains) hit back-to-back threes to give Rider the lead, then up 25-24, McIver scored the final five points of the half to send Rider into the locker room up 30-24.
 
Ekofo then scored seven points in an 8-0 run to start the second half, making it 13-straight points wrapped around the halftime break, and giving Rider a 14-point lead. The Broncs would lead 46-33 after three quarters.
 
Up 48-37 midway through the fourth, Ekofo hit a jumper, McIver a layup and a free throw, and then a pair of free throws by Aina Perez Mesquida (Manacor, Spain/IES CTEIB) extended the lead to its largest at 55-37. The Rider defense clamped down, holding the Red Foxes without a field goal for over nine minutes in the fourth quarter, going on to secure the victory.
 
Quotes & Notes
"It was a great team win. Our effort was great, we played really good defense. We were able to put the ball in the basket today, so that makes a big difference. Our players just stepped up. Did a better job of closing out on their shooters, and we forced them into a lot of difficult shots today. The team played together, they just really wanted to win the game." – Head Coach Jackie Hartzell
 
"I was just doing my job. They found me, and I made open shots. We knew it was a must-win game, so we played hard from the beginning, and we got rewarded. Our mindset was different, [than early in the year], so we got here, and we showed up." – Graduate Student Forward Kristina Ekofo
 
"Coming off the loss to Saint Peter's, we still want a chance to make the tournament, so we had to come in and give it our all. My team needs me to be aggressive, so I was just being aggressive and getting downhill. The trust my teammates have in me, so I just bounce off them. It means a lot, especially at home, so we're just trying to get into the tournament." – Junior Guard Aliya McIver
 
- Rider earns the season split against Marist and trims the Red Foxes lead in the all-time series to 50-24.
- McIver's 19 points led all scorers in the contest, reaching double figures for the 13^th time on the year.
- Ekofo scored in double figures for the 15^th time this season, finishing with 17.
 
Broncs By The Numbers
- Rider shot 35.7% (20-56) from the field, and 28.6% (6-21) from three. The Red Foxes shot 32.7% (16-49) from the field and 6.7% (1-15) from three.
- The Broncs had eight assists on their 20 made baskets, led by three from McIver.
- Rider held a 37-34 advantage on the glass, including an 11-8 edge in offensive rebounds. Roach led the Broncs with eight boards.
 
Up Next
The Broncs are back in action Thursday, beginning the annual Western New York trip at Canisius. Tip is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.