Box Score

HACKENSACK, N.J. -- Junior guard Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) registered a double-double  with 17 points and 13 assists to lead the Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team to a 92-81 victory over the FDU Florham Devils in a women's basketball exhibition contest Friday night at Stratis Arena.

In addition to Andrades, who had nine of her 13 assists in the second half, the Knights used double-digit scoring performances from junior Katie Buskey (Maple Valley, Wash./Tahoma) and sophomore Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird), who each netted 18 points in the effort. The Devils had four scorers in double figures, led by Alyssa McDonough, who poured in 21 points on 6-of-12 shooting. The Devils' Kyra Dayon led all rebounders with 12, while the Knights' Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) was the only other double-figure rebounder with 11.

Tied at 11-11  with 12 minutes to play in the first half, the Knights used a 4-0 run over the next minute of play and never looked back, extending the lead to as much a 20 before taking a 53-35 lead heading into the locker room.

In the second half the Knights once again extended the lead to 20 at 58-38 with 18:40 remaining on jumper by Andrades, before the Devils slowly whittled the deficit to 79-73 with six minutes to play.  The Knights outscored the Devils, 11-8, over the final six minutes to secure the game, which saw 59 fouls committed and 82 total free throws.

"Overall, it was a very exciting opener," Head Coach Peter Cinella said. "FDU Florham has a championship level team this season. We did a very good job on the offensive end of putting the ball in the hoop. Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) was a great floor general. Kelsey Cruz (Chester, Va./Lloyd C. Bird) and Katie Buskey (Maple Valley, Wash./Tahoma) did a great job shooting the basketball. Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic)'s defense was very sold. You have to give FDU Florham a lot of credit. They battled and continued to fight until the final buzzer, which makes them a championship-level top 20 team."

The Knights will tip off the regular season Sunday, November 10 when they host Manhattan for a 7 p.m. contest at Stratis Arena.