The Quinnipiac women’s basketball team defeated Rider Broncos 65-54 to add to a strong two-game win streak before losing four straight.
Quinnipiac came into this game vs. Rider 8-11 (5-5 in conference play) while Rider had a record of 5-14 (2-8 in conference play).
Quinnipiac started off well by winning the tip which was followed by Grace Labarge getting a three-point play off the first possession. Not only that, but the Bobcats worked the paint as much as possible in the first half finding cutters, playing bully-ball and taking advantage of three-point plays.
The first quarter was very physical but the referees were letting both teams play that way with minimal calls throughout the game.
Bobcats played great defense on Rider guard Jessika Schiffer. Normally Schiffer is a three-point shooting machine, racking up 102 three-point attempts before this game, but she did not get a three-point shot off until the fourth quarter.
The Bobcats played well, but Rider needed an answer. The Rider Broncos play a scrappy half, causing many Bobcat turnovers. In addition to defense, the Broncos had a major beam of light on offense. Broncos’ guard Grace Langan had herself a half, going 8-9 from the field and totaling 16 of Rider’s 28 points at the half.
In retaliation, Quinnipiac guard Reiven Douglas was a major sparkplug off the bench. Douglas hit a huge three-pointer that ended a 0-6 drought behind the arc including a great cutting play. Douglas had five points in five minutes off the bench just in the first half and the Bobcats went up 34-28.
The Bobcats came out hot to start the second scoring on four of their five possessions and going on a 9-0 run. No matter what happened, this Rider team kept swinging and answering with a big three to switch the momentum in the Bronco’s favor.
With a huge three-point play by Rider guard Mariona Cos-Maroles, the Broncos cut the lead to six which forced Rider to call a time-out. The Bobcats came out hot in the timeout and moved a little further to the Broncos by finishing the quarter 53-42 entering the fourth.
Both teams hit the ground running in the fourth quarter splashing three back-to-back threes and playing with a lot of hustle and fire. The Bobcats continued to bully in the paint and take advantage of their post-play to get some mid-ranges in as well. Rider fought hard in the fourth quarter but could not crawl their way back. The Bobcats outlast the Broncos and get the 65-54 victory.
The player of this game was no doubt, Anna Foley. Foley dropped 18, 10 and four shooting over 50 percent from the field.
“It was really nice to see Foley have a great weekend and dominate Thursday and again today,” Quinnipiac head coach Tricia Fabbri said. “She mentally made a change and was really aggressive and we needed that to happen.”
After the win vs. Rider, The Quinnipiac Bobcats look to take on the Saint Peter’s Peacocks on Thursday at 7 p.m.
