Preview of Thursday’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Game BUFFALO, N.Y. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum will meet Thursday when the Rider Broncs visit the Canisius Golden Griffins in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference women’s basketball game. The matchup at Koessler Athletic Center features struggling squads, with Rider at 6-19 overall and Canisius at 4-21. Both are looking to build on rare recent victories. Rider arrives following a 56-43 home win over Marist on Saturday, which snapped a two-game skid. The Broncs are led by guard Aliya McIver, who scored 19 points with six rebounds in that victory. McIver has been a volume scorer, including a 31-point performance in a win over Manhattan on Feb. 5, but has also been inconsistent, held to single digits in three of her last seven games. Canisius has lost five of its last six, with its lone win in that stretch a 74-58 decision over Niagara on Feb. 3. The Golden Griffins fell 68-55 at Manhattan on Saturday. Forward Yasmine Djibril paces Canisius, averaging 12.1 points per game. She has shown flashes, like a 20-point outing against Quinnipiac on Feb. 5 and a 15-point game at Iona last Thursday. For Rider, support for McIver came from Kristina Ekofo Yomane, who added 17 points against Marist. Canisius saw Shariah Gailes post a double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds) in the loss to Manhattan, while Franka Wittenberg contributed 14 points. The game is the only scheduled meeting between the teams this season. Rider continues its road trip at Niagara on Saturday. Canisius remains home to host Mount Saint Mary’s on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST.