Feb. 12, 2006

- Complete LIU Game Notes in PDF Format

INCREASING THE STREAK: The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team visits Northeast Conference opponent Long Island University on Monday, Feb. 13. The 7:00 p.m. tip-off marks the second of two meetings, as the Knights fell, 66-60, on Feb. 4 in the Rothman Center.

SCOUTING LIU: The Blackbirds enter Saturday's game in fifth-place in the conference, fueled by a 64-59 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 9. LIU is 7-5 in conference competition, at one time holding a four-game NEC win streak

Long Island boasts a roster full of shooters, leading the league in free throw percentage and three-point percentage, shooting 73.8 and 34.9 percent, respectively.

Senior guard Amber Wirth leads LIU, averaging 12.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg. Junior forward Marquita Thompson posts 10.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg.

Seven players have swiped at least 10 steals this season. However the Blackbirds only average 6.48 per contest. Long Island is also vulnerable on the block, averaging a conference-low 0.38 blocked shots per game.

Nine Blackbirds average double-digit minutes for Head Coach Stephanie Gaitley, led by Wirth's 31.8 mpg.

THE SERIES: Fairleigh Dickinson holds a 34-15 advantage in the all-time series versus the Blackbirds. Long Island defeated FDU on Feb. 4 in the Rothman Center, 66-60. The Knights' lone NEC victory last season came over LIU in a 57-53 win on Jan. 27, 2005.

LAST CONTEST: The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team knocked off Mount St. Mary's University, 66-61, in the Rothman Center on Saturday, Feb. 11. Senior guard Krissy Suckow (East Brunswick, NJ) matched a career-high of 28 points, shooting the lights out from long-range with five three-pointers.

The Knights (7-14, 4-9 NEC) opened the game on a 5-0 run, boosted by an inside bucket by sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD) and a three-pointer by Suckow.

Mount St. Mary's (11-11, 7-6 NEC) countered with a 12-4 run spanning 4:00, with guard Brianna Gauthier (Saverna Park, MD) leading the charge with six points, en route to 11 in the opening half. Gauthier notched 16 points, while forward LaToya Butler (Upper Marlboro, MD) contributed 19.

Sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland (Glen Allen, VA) nailed a trey from the left wing to level the score at 12-12, with 12:52 remaining in the half. Two possessions later sophomore forward Nikki Lockhart (Rochester, NY) splashed home an open look from behind the arc, as FDU knocked down 4-of-6 shots from long range in the initial 20 minutes.

Suckow connected on a three-ball at 3:09, putting FDU ahead, 30-29.

Freshman forward Katie Warehime (Littlestown, PA) provided a spark off the bench in the first-half, notching six points, en route to 12 in the contest.

At halftime, the score was 31-31. Fairleigh Dickinson swiped nine steals, but were out-rebounded 19-14.

At the 15:39 mark in the second-half, sophomore guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY) grabbed an offensive rebound and dropped in a put-back, evening the game at 38-38.

Warehime gave the Knights their first lead of the second-half at 44-43 with 12:47 remaining, converting a lay-in.

Suckow drained two shots - one from downtown - providing FDU with a 5-0 surge and a 56-48 lead. The senior banged another three-ball at 6:57, before knocking down a free throw on the Knights' ensuing possession to extend Fairleigh Dickinson's lead to 57-48 - the largest for advantage by either team on the afternoon.

The defense played tough in the waning minutes, highlighted by junior point guard Gayle Coats (Richmond, VA/Gertrude)' (Richmond, VA) career-high five steals.

FEB. 4: The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team lost to visiting Long Island University, 66-60, at the Rothman Center on Saturday, Feb. 4.

The Knights began the game on a 10-2 surge in the opening 4:29, on the strength of three-pointers by junior point guard Gayle Coats (Richmond, VA) and senior guard Krissy Suckow (East Brunswick, NJ).

Freshman forward Katie Warehime (Littlestown, PA) dropped in two-straight baskets in the paint to shift Fairleigh Dickinson ahead by double-digits at 21-11 with 8:39 remaining in the half. Warehime came off the bench to contribute a team-high 16 points.

Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD) proved a powerful force down low early on, giving FDU a 23-11 advantage on the Knights ensuing possession, en route to notching six points and three rebounds in the initial 20 minutes.

Long Island responded with a 15-2 run during a 3:44 span, jumping ahead, 26-25. Guard Brittani Kozik (Belle Plain, IA) jumpstarted the offense with two shots from behind the arc, as the junior scored a team-high 15 points.

The Blackbirds held a 32-27 lead at halftime after connecting on 5-of-13 three-point attempts, in addition to knocking down 11-of-13 opportunities from the charity stripe. Meanwhile, FDU was 3-for-9 from the line.

Sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland (Glen Allen, VA) buried a three-pointer from the left wing with 13:52 remaining in the second-half to bring the Knights within six, trailing 44-38. Two possessions later, the 5-foot-6 sparkplug drained another three-ball. Kirkland popped four shots from behind the arc in six attempts, notching 13 points and a career-high seven steals in the contest.

Suckow - who tallied 13 points, a career-high seven assists and six rebounds - fed Warehime in the post for a drop-step hoop at the 5:21 mark, as Fairleigh Dickinson drew within three at 54-51.

The Blackbirds outscored FDU 12-9 down the final stretch, knocking down 5-of-6 free throws to seal the win.

,B> NEXT UP: The Knights host Robert Morris University at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18 in the Rothman Center. On Jan. 28, Fairleigh Dickinson fell to the home-standing Colonials, 68-65, after leading the contest for over 37 minutes.

NEC ELITE: The Knights rank fourth in the conference averaging 64.0 points per game. Defensively, FDU leads the NEC in blocked shots with 5.10 per game and 12.76 spg.

DRIVING FORCE: Senior guard Krissy Suckow notched her ninth-straight double-digit scoring performance in a 66-61 victory over Mount St. Mary's on Feb.11. The Knights' lone senior poured matched her previous career-high of 28 points on the strength of shooting 5-for-7 from downtown.

Suckow hit four free throws in the final minute of play to seal the win, on her way to knocking down 9-of-12 opportunites from the charity stripe.

SEALING THE DEAL: Despite only knocking down only 1-of-5 opportunities from the charity stripe in the first-half on Feb. 7 in Staten Island, NY, the Knights held a 33-18 lead over home-standing Wagner College.

In the second-half, the Seahawks ensured FDU earn the victory the old-fashioned way - at the free throw line. Wagner fouled 11 times in the 20-minute interval, sending the Knights to the charity stripe 17 times. Fairleigh Dickinson answered the call, converting 15 shots, en route to a 69-50 rout.

Senior guard Krissy Suckow drained 6-of-7 free throws, with freshman forward Katie Warehime hitting 5-of-6 from the line in the game. Freshman guard Ashley Hayes converted 2-of-2 shots in the closing seconds.

CRASHING THE BOARDS: Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling hauled in 12 rebounds in the first-half of a 69-50 victory at Wagner College on Feb. 7. Meanwhile the entire Seahawks team posted 12 boards in the initial 20 minutes.

Walkling pushed on to rip down a career-high 19 rebounds on the night in 35 minutes of floor time. The 6-foot sophomore also set new season highs with four assists and four steals.

BACKCOURT BALLIN': Four Knights set new career-highs in a 66-60 loss versus Long Island University on Feb. 4.

Sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland pilfered seven steals, representing a Knight season-high. She also drained four three-pointers to match another Knight season-high.

Senior guard Krissy Suckow dished out seven assists for the first time in her four-year career.

Junior point guard Gayle Coats matched her previous career-high of seven points, marking her highest offensive production this season. Sophomore guard Shanay Freeman notched the first two blocks of her career.

THREE-BALL BRIGADE: The Knights caught fire from long-range versus Monmouth University on Feb. 2. FDU shot 50.0 percent from behind the arc on 16 attempts.

Four players drained three-balls, with senior guard Krissy Suckow tallying four, followed by sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland (Glen Allen, VA/Hermitage)'s two. Freshmen forwards Katie Warehime and Lauren Coombs also popped a triple.

LAUNCH PARTY: Senior guard Krissy Suckow took over FDU's contest versus St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 30, tossing up 17 field goal attempts in 37 minutes.

Suckow dropped in a season-best three shots from behind the arc in eight attempts, but made a bigger impact from the charity stripe.

The 5-foot-8 guard knocked down a career-high 14-of-18 shots from the line, en route to a career-high and Knight season-high 27 points. Her 14 free throws in one game are second all-time, behind Jennifer Kozlowski's (`04) 16 on Jan. 28, 2004 at Monmouth.

Suckow also dished out five asissts, in addition to swiping two steals.

Three nights later at Monmouth University, Suckow set a new career-high with 28 points, including four three-pointers on five attempts. The senior connected on 9-of-13 attempts from the floor, in addition to notching four assists.

DOING IT ALL: Junior forward Mercedez Walker dropped in a career-high 13 points at St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 30, shooting a steller 66.6 percent from the floor on nine attempts.

Walker canned her second three-ball of the season, while ripping down three rebounds on the offensive glass. The junior also tallied three blocks.

The 6-foot-3 forward stands tied for seventh-place on the Knights' career block list with 69. Walker also stands in second-place on the all-time single-season block list with 55.

LUCKY 7'S: Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling ripped down seven offensive boards at Robert Morris University on Jan. 28, marking the second-straight game where the six-foot power forward grabbed seven rebounds on the offensive glass.

Walkling notched two-straight double-doubles, with 10 rebounds at RMU as well as Sacred Heart on Jan. 25. Versus the Colonials, the sophomore scored 16 points, and dropped in 15 against the Pioneers.

PROTOTYPICAL KNIGHT: Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling broke out on Jan. 25 in FDU's 76-55 loss to conference-leader Sacred Heart University. The power forward recorded five then-season-highs versus the Pioneers, including: points, rebounds, field goals made, field goals attempted and minutes.

In 30 minutes of action, Walkling posted 15 points and 10 boards, marking the Knights' then-second double-double of the season, and first of 2006. The six-foot sophomore converted 6-of-11 field goals, grabbing a Knight season-high of seven offensive rebounds.

PROTECTING THE HOOP: Junior forward Mercedez Walker matched her career-high of six blocks versus St. Francis (NY) on Jan. 20. Walker paces the NEC with a rate of 2.7 blocks a game.

The 6-foot-3 defensive stud poses a threat to set the FDU single-season record for blocks, as she is on pace for 74 blocks this season. The current record is held by Janice Reaves' (`83) 69 swats in the 1980-81 season.

The junior entered the season with 14 rejections in 25 games.

TICKLING THE TWINE: Senior guard Krissy Suckow poured in a then-season-high 17 points in the Knights' first conference victory over St. Francis (NY) on Jan. 20. In a then-season-best 38 minutes, Suckow also converted 7-of-9 shots from the charity stripe, marking two other then-season-highs.

FRESHMEN FIREPOWER: The duo of freshmen forwards Heather Coombs and Katie Warehime carried the FDU offense versus Quinnipiac on Jan. 16.

Coombs knocked down a career-high two three-pointers in two attempts, en route to her best scoring performance of her collegiate career with 11 points. Her ability to shoot from the outside and post inside - collecting a team-best and career-high five rebounds - enabled Warehime to get to work down on the block.

The 6-foot-1 forward shot 2-for-4 from the field, in addition to getting to the charity stripe seven times. Warehime, a 71.1 percent shooter from the line - good for 11th in the NEC - hit six free throws to register 11 points.

HOME STATE HOT STREAK: Junior forward Mercedez Walker returned home to Connecticut on Jan. 14 against Central Connecticut State University and impressed Fairleigh Dickinson fans with the best offensive performance of her career.

The 6-foot-3 forward dropped in six field goals for a new career-high, notching a then-personal-best 12 points. Walker's 12 shots also marked a new high, in addition to her then-career-high 26 minutes.

ON THE RISE: The Knights posted five new team-highs versus St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 9, hard evidence of the strides the team has made over its first 11 games.

FDU's ball movement was smooth, as the team dropped in 32 field goals in 75 attempts. The open shots were a direct result of 24 assists and a season-low 15 turnovers.

The defense stepped up with 22 steals, however could not slow down the Red Flash's 56.4 field goal percentage, including 63.6 percent from long range and 80 percent from the foul line.

SHOOTER'S TOUCH: Sophomore guard Shanay Freeman zoned in versus St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 9, taking her game to a new level. The Laurelton, NY-native found her stroke from the outside, as well as successfully penetrating the lane to get to the charity stripe, draining 7-of-10 field goals in the first-half.

The sophomore's 17 first-half points matched her previous career high versus Wagner set last Feb. 2. Freeman hit 5-of-7 free throws and connected on 8-of-13 field goals for 21 points in 32 minutes of floor time. The guard also grabbed three rebounds, dished out three assists and grabbed two steals.

POST POWER: Fairleigh Dickinson's inside game caught fire when the Knights hosted St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 9. The starting front court - junior Mercedez Walker and sophomore Nikki Lockhart - combined for 15 points and 13 boards. Walker notched eight points, seven rebounds and a career-high three steals. Lockhart tallied seven points and six rebounds.

The Knights' success down low continued when Head Coach Sandy Gordon substituted fresh legs into the game in sophomore Jennifer Walkling and freshman Katie Warehime. Walkling played a then-season-high 20 minutes, recording 14 points and eight boards, while Warehime contributed nine points, four steals and three rebounds.

When the final buzzer sounded, the foursome posted a combined 38 points, 24 rebounds, and nine steals in 80 minutes.

DIRECTING THE FLOW: Sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland truly embodied the role of her position versus St. Francis (PA) on Jan. 9, looking to pass first and score second. The sophomore recorded a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio, on her way to posting two career-highs and Knight season-highs. FDU's floor general notched eight assists, in addition to six steals versus the Red Flash.

Kirkland also splashed in two three-pointers in four attempts, en route to eight points during a team-high 37 minutes.

O WNING THE LANE: Junior forward Mercedez Walker proved one of the Knights' strong points in a physical contest versus Princeton University on Dec. 30. The 6-foot-3 intimidator put forth a season and-career-high 25 minutes, single-handedly defending All-Ivy League center Becky Brown.

Walker stepped up versus a dominating trio of Tiger post players, recording a game-high five blocks on the evening, in addition to ripping down a team-high seven rebounds. The defensive stalwart also chipped in a team-leading nine points, two steals and two assists.

Walker capped off her evening by draining her first-ever collegiate three-pointer.

A TOUGH WALK: The return of physical forward Jennifer Walkling to the Knights' lineup sparked FDU's post game versus Lafayette College, as the sophomore dropped in five points on 2-for-2 shooting in the first-half. Walkling finished the contest with 13 minutes of floor time, notching seven points, two rebounds and one block.

Through 14 games this season, Walkling has posted season-highs of 16 points, 19 rebounds, four assists and four steals.

ROLLING: Freshman forward Katie Warehime continues to build on her early season success, racking up a career-high 19 points in 27 minutes at Barry University on Dec. 4. In her NEC debut at Mount St. Mary's, the post player poured in a team-high 18 points.

On Dec. 11, the forward was named Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week, marking the second occasion this season.

In FDU's 11 games, Warehime ranks tied for second-place on the squad with 9.3 ppg and has proven the Knights' leading scorer in five outings this season. Her 17.4 minutes per game top the Knights 11-player bench.

FRESHMEN FLOOR TIME: A youthful Knights' squad made significant strides versus the University of Miami, with five freshmen seeing double-digit minutes versus the home-standing Hurricanes.

Forward Katie Warehime sparked FDU with 13 points off the bench, including a 6-6 performance from the foul line.

Forwards Ashley Hayes and Jessica Naquin recorded career-high point totals with four and five points, respectively. The tandem also tallied career-highs in minutes, with Hayes playing 18 and Naquin 21.

Forward Heather Coombs matched her then-career-high minutes with 12, while setting a rebounding high with three.

SNEAKY SHANAY: Sophomore guard Shanay Freeman set a career-high in steals with five versus The University of Miami on Dec. 2. Freeman's new personal best came only two days after matching her previous career-high of four steals at St. John's University on Nov. 30.

ROLE PLAYER: Katie Warehime was named the Northeast Conference Choice Hotels NEC Rookie of the Week, for the first time on Nov. 28.

Warehime came off the bench to score double-figure points in the Knights' 75-64 win over Binghamton. The Littlestown, PA native dropped in 14 points, posted a team-high eight rebounds, registered four steals, while shooting 4-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from the free-throw line in 23 minutes.

Her performance marked the second occasion the freshman dropped in 10-straight points to spark the Knights this season.

PLAYING BIG: Megan Kirkland notched her first career double-double versus Columbia with 15 points and 13 rebounds. The sophomore has proven more than just Coach Sandy Gordon's floor general, averaging a 4.2 rpg and an NEC-second-best 2.9 steals per contest.

Kirkland also averages 8.8 ppg. The 5-6 point guard is registering 28.9 minutes per game, dishing out 3.1 assists a night. She is shooting 41.9 percent from three-point land on 62 attempts, topping the conference.

BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE: In her collegiate debut at University of Maryland - Baltimore County's Retriever Classic, forward Rachel Ormsby turned some heads in her sixth-man role, averaging 15.5 minutes per game. The freshman scored a team-high 15 points versus Columbia University on Nov. 19, in addition to notching six rebounds. The following day in the championship game, Ormsby contributed seven points and three rebounds in the Knights' loss to UMBC.

At 6-2 she has proven an outside threat, posting a 68.3 shooting percentage (7-12) from behind the arc and is 11-for-26 from the field.

Her exceptional tournament performance garnered NEC Choice Hotels Rookie of the Week honors in the first week of the season.

SETTING THE BAR: Junior forward Mercedez Walker shattered her previous career-high of two blocks versus Columbia. The junior tallied six stuffs in the contest to accompany her seven points and five rebounds. Her 11-point performance against UMBC the following day also set a career-high.

Walker continued her defensive dominance at Barry University on Dec. 4, notching four blocks, then again on Dec. 30 at Princeton, the forward tallied five.

The junior averages an NEC-leading 2.7 swats per game.

SENIOR SHOW: Lone senior Krissy Suckow was named to the UMBC Retriever Classic All-Tournament team following an impressive two-game performance. The guard averaged 11.0 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds en route to the Knights' runner-up finish.

COACH QUOTES:

Columbia (11/19):

· "She's our floor general and it all starts with the point guard," Coach Sandy Gordon said. "Megan (Kirkland) got us going and put forth a solid all-around performance at both ends of the court."

· "We got some big minutes off the bench from our freshmen," Gordon said. "I'm going to play a lot of freshmen because we're so young and it's good to see different people step up at various times."

· "Coming off a season like last year, the win is huge," Gordon said. "The team has worked so hard and notching this win as a result of that diligence provides a huge confidence builder."

Binghamton (11/23):

· "This is a lot of firsts, winning at home and winning the home opener," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "This is a huge win going into a tough stretch. We knew they were going to be good, so this is a good win going into the holiday."

· "The difference between last year and this year is our depth and our tempo," Gordon said. "We try to push the ball in transition. From day one we've been harping on intensity and solid defense."

St. John's (11/30):

· "Tonight was a great effort - a great effort for 30 minutes," Gordon said. "Unfortunately, games are 40 minutes long and we got killed on the boards. As young as we are, to play with a team like that, it's a positive."

· "They had a ton of points off put backs," Gordon said. "They made their run off the offensive boards. Regardless, we'll take this experience and build from here."

Mount St. Mary's (12/10):

· "Katie (Warehime) had a big game," Gordon said. "For her to come in and leave an impact the way she has in seven games has been a huge lift."

· "That's NEC basketball," Gordon said. "Every game is close. We got down 14 points but we still competed and didn't quit. The bottom line is 32 turnovers won't get it done."

Quinnipiac (1/7):

· "It's a disappointing loss," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "It was a game of runs and we had too many mistakes at key points, particularly turnovers at critical times. We missed too many lay-ups and in NEC basketball the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win the game."

St. Francis NY (1/20):

· "Tonight we played well with the lead," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "We played to win and the result was a victory. We finally got the monkey off our back and got a big win, which is a huge boost to our confidence."

· "That (Kirkland's three-pointer with 1:22 remaining) was a huge shot," Gordon continued, "Especially because of the way we have a tendency to give up leads late. We changed up the line-up a bit and Meg provided a spark off the bench with her confident shooting."

· "The win's even sweeter because it was televised (on Fox Sports Network - New York)," Gordon said. "We play hard regardless of whether it's on TV but we've been fighting and battling to get a win for (Assistant) Coach (Joymarie) Swanson, who we know was at home watching. Above all, it's great to see the kids smiling."

Robert Morris (1/28):

· "It's a heart-breaking loss," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "We did everything right, but come out on the right side of the scoreboard. It was a great effort, but we just came up short in the end - turnovers and missed foul shots cost us."

St. Francis PA (1/30):

· "It's been a long time since Fairleigh Dickinson has beaten St. Francis here (in Loretto)," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "We've been struggling to put teams away, and tonight we played with the lead and didn't give it back. We showed a killer instinct and played with confidence."

· "This is a big game for us," Gordon said. "A win like this can get us going as we make our push toward the playoffs."

Long Island (2/4): · "Today we beat ourselves," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "We're right there. It's another one where we came up short."

Wagner (2/7): · "It's big just to get a win," Gordon said. "Tonight we did everything, especially knocking down free throws in the second-half. This is a good team victory and really helps us gain confidence going into the final stretch."

Mount St. Mary's (2/11):

· "This is a huge win," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "Right now every win is big because we're fighting for a playoff position."

· "We didn't panic when we were down," Gordon said. "We played good defense and created turnovers in some big spots. Down the stretch we had some key contributions from our bench."

RULE OF 10: FDU remained close in nearly every contest last season, but couldn't seem to catch a break. How close were they? A total of 18 of their school-record 25 losses were by 10 or fewer points.

PRESEASON POLL: The Knights were chosen to finish tenth in the NEC preseason coaches poll, according to a vote of the league's head coaches. The rankings and preseason all-conference team were announced during a media teleconference with coaches.

The Knights, who ended last season 2-25 overall with a 1-17 mark in league action, finished ahead of only ahead of Staten Island's Wagner College.

The squad ended the season short of the conference tournament for only the second time in Coach Gordon's six seasons as Fairleigh Dickinson.

THE COACHES: Head Coach Sandy Gordon enters her seventh season with the Knights. She has led her team to the NEC Tournament in four of her six seasons manning the bench, with the team bowing out in the first round in each of those tournaments. Gordon expects her squad of 13 underclassmen to be competitive in every game.

Stephanie Gaitley enters her third season at the helm of Long Island University. In 2004-05, the Blackbirds went 11-17, with six of their defeats by 10 points or less.

Gaitley sports a 338-183 career record, including seven NCAA Tournament berths, four conference championships and two Women's National Invitation Tournament appearances. The veteran coach notched a 196-88 mark in 10 seasons at Saint Joseph's (PA) (1991-2001) and went 116-63 in six seasons at Richmond (1985-91).