NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Interstat) — The Merrimack Warriors delivered a dominant defensive performance, holding the Rider Broncs to a season-low in points en route to a decisive 73-37 victory in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Volpe Athletic Center.

The Warriors, improving to 13-10 overall, controlled the game from the outset, but a crippling second-quarter offensive drought for Rider proved to be the decisive stretch. After a competitive first quarter that ended with Merrimack leading 17-14, the Broncs’ offense completely stalled. Rider managed just two points in the entire second period, shooting 1-for-14 from the floor and committing six turnovers. During that same 10-minute span, Merrimack extended its lead to 31-16 by halftime, effectively putting the game out of reach.

The most important part of the game was this overwhelming second-quarter defensive stand by Merrimack, which transformed a narrow three-point lead into a commanding 15-point cushion. The Warriors’ pressure and activity disrupted Rider’s offensive flow entirely, leading to rushed shots and costly mistakes. Rider never recovered, failing to mount any significant challenge in the second half as Merrimack continued to build its advantage, leading by as many as 36 points in the final minutes.

Merrimack’s effort was led by a standout performance from Madison Roman. The junior from Fairfield, Connecticut, recorded a double-double with 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in just 26 minutes, adding four assists and three steals. Her work on the glass was pivotal, as she helped Merrimack to a commanding 53-36 rebounding advantage.

The Warriors showcased balanced scoring behind Roman. Daria Shishkina of Moscow, Russia, came off the bench to score a team-high 12 points. Lydia Melashenko of Ottawa, Canada, added 14 points, while Joi Williams of Alliance, Ohio, contributed 11 points and three rebounds in 13 minutes. Guard Paloma Garcia of Corozal, Puerto Rico, chipped in nine points, six rebounds and two assists.

For Rider, which fell to 5-18, Kristina Ekofo Yomane of Brussels, Belgium, was the lone bright spot, scoring a game-high 13 points and grabbing four rebounds. Aliya McIver of White Plains, New York, added eight points, five rebounds and two assists. The Broncs struggled mightily with their shooting throughout the contest, finishing at a 25 percent clip from the field and connecting on only 4 of 24 attempts from three-point range.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for Merrimack, which also defeated Rider 72-54 on Jan. 1 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The Warriors have now won three of their last four conference games.

Merrimack returns to action next Saturday, Feb. 14, hosting Siena. Rider looks to rebound from this loss when it hosts Saint Peter’s on Thursday, Feb. 12.