LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced the women's basketball schedule for the 2026-27 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 Iona and Siena on the road and Merrimack and Sacred Heart at home.
Along with the conference schedule, women's basketball Head Coach Jackie Hartzell has also announced the team's non-conference schedule for the 2026-27 season. The Broncs will play their opening game of the season on the road against NJIT on Monday, November 2 while opening their home campaign against LIU on Wednesday, December 2 in Lawrenceville. On the road, Rider will play Central Connecticut, Yale, FDU, Wagner, Seton Hall, Lafayette, and George Washington during non-conference play.
All games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks and start times will be announced at a later date. Season ticket information will be announced soon and existing season ticket holders will be receiving an e-mail shortly regarding renewals for the 2026-27 season.
NJIT
Monday, November 2 – Newark, NJ
Series History: 5-3, Rider
Winning Streak: NJIT (W2)
Last Meeting: L, 70-57 (11/15/23)
2025-26 Record: 19-13 (9-7 America East)
Notes: The Broncs and the Highlanders have met on eight occasions dating back to their first match up in 2011, in which Rider beat NJIT 60-50 away in Newark. NJIT currently owns a two-game win streak against Rider, splitting both games across both locations in the Garden State. The Broncs will look to improve upon their 3-1 record in Newark on opening night on November 2.
Central Connecticut State
Thursday, November 12 – New Britain, CT
Series History: 6-3, Rider
Winning Streak: Rider (W1)
Last Meeting: W, 61-58 (12/21/13)
2025-26 Record: 2-27 (2-16 NEC)
Notes: The Blue Devils and the Broncs last faced off against each other over a decade ago in Lawrenceville in which Rider beat Central Connecticut State 61-58. Both sides first faced off against one another on opening night of the 1981 season in Union, New Jersey, in which the Blue Devils defeated the broncs by a score of 80-72. The Broncs look to improve upon their 1-2 record in New Britain in November.
Yale
Saturday, November 14 – New Haven, CT
Series History: 1-0, Yale
Winning Streak: Yale (W1)
Last Meeting: L, 53-52 (12/6/25)
2025-26 Record: 7-20 (3-11 Ivy League)
Notes: Rider and Yale faced off for the first time ever on December 6, 2025 in which the Bulldogs narrowly defeated the Broncs 53-52 in Lawrenceville off the back of two made Yale free throws to take the lead with seven seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The game on November 14 will be the first time that the Broncs will face off against the Bulldogs in New Haven.
Fairleigh Dickinson
Tuesday, November 17 – Teaneck, NJ
Series History: 13-8, Rider
Winning Streak: FDU (W2)
Last Meeting: L, 62-54 (12/8/24)
2025-26 Record: 30-5 (18-0 NEC)
Notes: After a year off of playing each other, the match up between the Knights and the Broncs returns in 2026 when Rider travels to Teaneck to face off against Fairleigh Dickinson on November 17. FDU is currently on a two-game win streak against Rider, with the Broncs last win coming December 22, 2011 when Rider defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 69-68 in Lawrenceville. The Broncs have a 5-5 record playing away in Teaneck.
Wagner
Friday, November 20 – Staten island, NY
Series History: 14-8, Rider
Winning Streak: Wagner (W2)
Last Meeting: L, 46-34 (12/13/25)
2025-26 Record: 13-17 (9-9 NEC)
Notes: After a 46-34 in Lawrenceville in favor of the Seahawks, the Broncs will look to rebound on Staten Island on November 20. After a slow start to the first half in 2025, the Broncs rebounded in the second while eventually falling at the final siren. On Staten Island, the Broncs have an overall record of 7-6, with their last win coming in the form of a 71-59 win on December 29, 2006. The Seahawks are currently on a two-game win streak against the Broncs.
Seton Hall
Monday, November 23 – South Orange, NJ
Series History: 12-0, Seton Hall
Winning Streak: Seton Hall (W12)
Last Meeting: L, 78-40 (12/9/22)
2025-26 Record: 19-13 (12-8 Big East)
Notes: The Broncs end their non-conference, New Jersey match ups against Seton Hall in South Orange on November 23. Since their first meeting on January 19, 1984, Seton Hall has recorded a 12-0 record against the Broncs, with their last match up on December 9, 2022 coming in the form of a 78-40 win in favor of the Pirates in South Orange.
LIU
Wednesday, December 2 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Series History: 2-0, Rider
Winning Streak: Rider (W2)
Last Meeting: W, 58-43 (12/2/25)
2025-26 Record: 21-11 (14-4 NEC)
Notes: The Broncs open their 2026-27 home schedule against LIU on December 2 at Canastra Hammer Arena. The Broncs first faced off against the Sharks on November 12, 2024 in which the Broncs rounded out the win with a 66-54 score line. Last year's match up ended with a score line of 58-43 in favor of the Broncs. 2026 will play host to the first meeting between the Broncs and the Sharks in Lawrenceville.
Lafayette
Sunday, December 6 – Easton, PA
Series History: 18-12, Lafayette
Winning Streak: Rider (W1)
Last Meeting: W, 65-58 (11/6/25)
2025-26 Record: 11-19 (7-11 Patriot League)
Notes: Rider rounded out their 2025 match up with Lafayette with a 65-58 win in Lawrenceville on November 6 after scoring 45 points across the second and third quarters. The Broncs have a 12-18 record against the Leopards dating back to their first match up in 1981 in which the Broncs won 62-56 in Easton. Rider will look to improve upon their 3-13 record in Easton on December 6.
George Washington
Saturday, December 12 – Washington, DC
Series History: 1-1, Tied
Winning Streak: George Washington (W1)
Last Meeting: L, 91-49 (12/19/97)
2025-26 Record: 18-18 (7-11 A10)
Notes: Rider and George Washington have not faced off against one another since December 19, 1997 in which the Revolutionaries beat the Broncs by a score line of 91-49. The decades long break from the fixture is not uncommon, as the only other time Rider has played GW came on January 22, 1983 when the Broncs won by a score line of 61-52 in Lawrenceville.
Canisius
Saturday, December 19 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Saturday, February 27 – Buffalo, NY
Series History: 37-20, Canisius
Winning Streak: Rider (W1)
Last Meeting: W, 55-53 (2/19/26)
2025-26 Record: 5-24 (3-17 MAAC)
Notes: Rider opens their Metro Conference schedule on December 19 against Canisius at home in Lawrenceville. During their last match up on February 19, the Broncs rounded out a 55-53 win against the Golden Griffins in Buffalo, outscoring Canisius 10-8 in overtime. The Golden Griffins have a record of 37-20 against the Broncs while maintaining a record of 35-19 in the Metro Conference. The Broncs average 63.09 points against the Golden Griffins while scoring 3596 total points against Canisius.
Niagara
Monday, December 21 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Thursday, February 25 – Niagara University, NY
Series History: 35-28, Niagara
Winning Streak: Niagara (W2)
Last Meeting: L, 56-52 (2/21/26)
2025-26 Record: 1-28 (1-19 MAAC)
Notes: Rider and Niagara's last match up ended with a score of 56-52 in favor of the Purple Eagles away in upstate New York. The Broncs have a record of 28-35 against Niagara while owning a record 10-18 in the upstate while having a record of 17-13 at Canastra Hammer Arena. Rider averages a point total of 65.6 against the Purple Eagles while looking to improve upon their 25-31 record in the Metro Conference against Niagara.
Quinnipiac
Tuesday, December 29 – Hamden, CT
Saturday, January 30 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Series History: 25-4, Quinnipiac
Winning Streak: Quinnipiac (W9)
Last Meeting: L, 68-56 (1/3/26)
2025-26 Record: 27-7 (19-1 MAAC)
Notes: Rider and Quinnipiac have played against each other on 29 occasions dating back to their first match up on December 2, 2012 while having an overall record of 4-25 against the Bobcats. The Broncs last win against Quinnipiac came March 10, 2021 when Rider upset Quinnipiac 62-50 in the MAAC Quarterfinals to advance the penultimate round in Atlantic City.
Fairfield
Friday, January 1 – Fairfield, CT
Thursday, January 21 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Series History: 51-13, Fairfield
Winning Streak: Fairfield (W12)
Last Meeting: L, 84-58 (12/19/25)
2025-26 Record: 28-5 (19-1 MAAC)
Notes: The Broncs and the Stags have faced off against each other on 64 occasions dating back to December 4, 1987, with Fairfield edging Rider with a record of 51-13. Their last meeting ended with the Stags on top with a score of 84-58 on December 19 in Lawrenceville. The Bronc's last win against the Stags came on February 27, 2020, in which the Broncs extended their win streak to five games against the Stags with a 68-60 win in Connecticut.
Saint Peter's
Sunday, January 3 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Saturday, January 23 – Jersey City, NJ
Series History: 45-30, Saint Peter's
Winning Streak: Saint Peter's (W3)
Last Meeting: L, 42-40 (2/12/26)
2025-26 Record: 7-23 (6-14 MAAC)
Notes: The Peacocks narrowly beat the Broncs during their last meeting by a score of 42-40 on February 12 in Lawrenceville to extend their wins streak to three games against Rider. The Broncs won their first match up against the Peacocks on November 1, 1981 by a score of 59-56 in Lawrenceville during the first edition of the Battle of New Jersey.
Mount St. Mary's
Thursday, January 7 – Emmitsburg, MD
Thursday, February 11 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Series History: 24-7, Mount
Winning Streak: Mount (W6)
Last Meeting: L, 54-46 (2/28/26)
2025-26 Record: 15-15 (11-9 MAAC)
Notes: Meeting 31 times since 1983, Rider has an overall record of 7-24 against the Mount, with their last match up against the Mountaineers ending in 54-46 score in favor of the home team in Emmitsburg. Rider's last win against the Mount came on February 23, 2023 when the Broncs defeated the Mountaineers 68-59 in overtime at Canastra Hammer Arena.
Iona
Wednesday, January 13 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Series History: 38-27, Iona
Winning Streak: Iona (W4)
Last Meeting: L, 48-40 (1/22/26)
2025-26 Record: 20-12 (12-8 MAAC)
Notes: Rider fell to Iona during the last meeting between the two sides by a score of 48-40 on January 22 in Lawrenceville as the Gaels improved their win streak against the Broncs to four games. At home in Lawrenceville, the Broncs hold a record of 15-13 against the Gaels, with their last win at Canastra Hammer Arena coming on January 4, 2024 when Rider defeated Iona 63-56.
Manhattan
Saturday, January 16 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Saturday, February 13 – Riverdale, NY
Series History: 39-22, Manhattan
Winning Streak: Rider (W1)
Last Meeting: W, 71-60 (2/5/26)
2025-26 Record: 11-20 (10-10 MAAC)
Notes: The Broncs recorded an 11-point win against the Jaspers during their last match up on February 5, with the final score line reading 71-60 in favor of the Broncs. Rider has an overall record of 22-39 against Manhattan with their first win against the Jaspers coming on February 18, 1999 in the form of a 82-56 win in Lawrenceville.
Marist
Monday, January 18 – Poughkeepsie, NY
Saturday, February 20 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Series History: 52-24, Marist
Winning Streak: Rider (W1)
Last Meeting: W, 56-43 (2/14/26)
2025-26 Record: 11-20 (8-12 MAAC)
Notes: Marist and Rider last met on Valentines Day, 2026 in which the Broncs rounded out a 56-43 win against the Red Foxes in Lawrenceville. The Broncs longest win streak against the Red Foxes came during the 2022-23 season in which Rider rattled off an away win, a home win, and a 63-50 win during the first round of the MAAC tournament on March 7, 2023.
Sacred Heart
Thursday, January 28 – Fairfield, CT
Series History: 3-2, Sacred heart
Winning Streak: Rider (W1)
Last Meeting: W, 64-54 (1/17/26)
2025-26 Record: 13-18 (10-10 MAAC)
Notes: Since their first meeting on November 30, 2004, in which the Pioneers defeated the Broncs 71-57 in Fairfield, the two sides have met a total of five times with the Broncs slightly edging the Pioneers 3-2 in the series. Their last meeting on January 17, 2026 ended in favor of the Broncs, with Rider defeating Sacred Heart 64-54 in Lawrenceville.
Merrimack
Saturday, February 6 – North Andover, MA
Series History: 3-2, Rider
Winning Streak: Merrimack (W2)
Last Meeting: L, 73-37 (2/7/26)
2025-26 Record: 19-13 (15-5 MAAC)
Notes: Rider and Merrimack have also played on five occasions dating back to 2023, with Rider edging Merrimack in the series 3-2. Their last match up ended 73-37 in favor of the Warriors in North Andover, completing the season sweep of the Broncs. Prior to that, the Broncs had a three-game win streak on while defeating Merrimack once in Massachusetts while beating the Warriors in 2023 and 2025 in Lawrenceville.
Siena
Thursday, February 18 – Canastra Hammer Arena
Series History: 42-18, Siena
Winning Streak: Siena (W1)
Last Meeting: L, 67-55 (2/26/26)
2025-26 Record: 13-17 (11-9 MAAC)
Notes: Rider and Siena split their match ups in 2026, with the Broncs beating the Saints 61-59 in Loudonville while falling to Siena 67-55 in Lawrenceville on February 26. Since their first meeting in 1998, the Broncs have recorded a record of 18-42 against Siena.
