Feb. 27, 2006

Complete Women's Basketball Game Notes in PDF Format

RUN AT TEN: The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team seeks their tenth victory of the season, as they host Northeast Conference opponent Wagner College on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in the Rothman Center. The 7:00 p.m. tip-off marks the Knights' regular-season finale and a rematch of the Feb. 7 meeting in Staten Island, NY when FDU won, 69-50. A homecourt victory, in addition to a Central Connecticut State University loss, gives the Knights the No. 7-seed in the NEC tournament.

SCOUTING WAGNER: The Seahawks visit Fairleigh Dickinson, amidst a three-game losing streak. Wagner's lone victories of the season were a 63-55 road win at St. Francis (NY) on Jan. 4. and at home on Feb. 15, over Central Connecticut State, 68-53.

The Seahawks' backcourt averages double-digit point totals. Sophomore guard Chelsey Bunyer and senior guard Joy Gallagher average 14.0 ppg and 13.8 ppg, respectively.

Bunyer has knocked down 154 field goals, resulting in a shooting percentage of 41.3 percent. Gallagher has drained 52 three-pointers, in addition to posting a team-high 35.7 mpg. The duo is consistent from the free throw line, both averaging over 75.0 percent.

Sophomore center Ali Ridge leads the team in rebounding, notching 5.5 rips per game.

Ten players average double-figures in floortime.

THE SERIES: The Knights trail Wagner in the all-time series, 30-21. FDU downed the Seahawks on the road on Feb. 7, 69-50. Wagner defeated the Knights on two occasions last season, in the squad's only wins of 2004-05.

NEXT UP: The Knights hit the road for the conference tournament, with the quaretrfinal round scheduled for Saturday, March 4. FDU will be the seventh or eighth seed and play at the first or second seed.

LAST CONTEST: The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team took it to the University of North Colorado, 74-58, on Friday, Feb. 24 in the Rothman Center. Senior guard Krissy Suckow (East Brunswick, NJ) shot 7-of-12 from the floor, registering 25 points and five rebounds.

The Knights jumped on their Division I-A Independent opponent from the opening tip. FDU took a 7-0 lead as Suckow popped a three-ball, before knifing through the defense for a driving lay-in.

Junior forward Mercedez Walker (Stratford, CT), who hauled down a team-best seven boards, completed an old-fashioned three-point play at 16:21, shifting FDU ahead, 10-3.

Northern Colorado ran off 10 unanswered points to grab a 13-10 advantage, capped off by a three-pointer by guard Jena Fosdick (Lincoln, NE).

The Knights put together a 9-0 run to take a 22-20 lead, fueled by five-consecutive points by Suckow. Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD) went to work down low, netting six-straight points, en route to 12 points in the first-half.

Fairleigh Dickinson held a 43-31 advantage at the break, notching 20 points in the paint, while knocking down 9-of-9 opportunities at the charity stripe. The Bears shot 36.7 percent from the field, popping six of their 12 treys in the initial 20 minutes. The Knights countered by connecting on 15-of-30 field goals.

FDU opened the second-half by hitting four free throws, working on a 9-2 surge, en route to a its largest lead of the night at 52-33.

Suckow converted 8-of-9 opportunities at the line, while sophomore guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY) knocked down 7-of-8, with five coming in the waning minutes.

Seven different players scored for the Knights in the second-half.

The Bears were led by forward Heather Barbour who tallied a team-high 16 points, including four three-pointers. Northern Colorado hoisted 40 attempts from behind the arc in the contest.

FEB. 7: The Knights won 69-50 in the Spiro Sports Center on the campus of Wagner College on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Senior guard Krissy Suckow led the Knights, dropping in 10 first-half points, en route to 21 in the game.

Fairleigh Dickinson jumped out in front via a 6-0 run, capitalizing on three-consecutive steals, and would never trail in the contest. However, Wagner responded with a 6-0 surge of its own, leveling the contest at 6-6.

Suckow nailed a three-ball from five feet behind the arc at 15:28, pushing the Knights ahead, 9-6. The senior connected on 6-of-15 attempts from the field, including three from long-range.

Sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland led a 3-on-1 fast-break, dishing to Suckow for a lay-in with 11:32 remaining, increasing FDU's lead to 18-11. Kirkland drained a three-pointer at 9:54, boosting the Knights to a double-digit lead at 22-11. The 5-foot-6 floor leader notched 11 points, five rebounds and four assists on the night, including three field goals from downtown.

Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling dominated the glass in the first-half, hauling down 12 boards. Walkling fell one point shy of a double-double, notching nine points, including a career-high and Knight season-high 19 rebounds.

Fairleigh Dickinson held a 15-point advantage at halftime, 33-18, representing its largest lead at the break this season. After the initial 20 minutes, the Knights out-rebounded Wagner 25-12, while compiling 12 points in the paint.

Junior forward Mercedez Walker continued the Knights' aggressive performance on defense, swatting away two inside looks on the Seahawks' opening possessions of the second-half. The 6-foot-3 post player knocked down a jumper on the baseline to open FDU's scoring in the period, on her way to tallying nine points and four blocks on the night.

Freshman forward Katie Warehime dumped in eight-straight points, at one time giving the Knights an 18-point advantage, 48-30, with 13:00 remaining. The freshman posted nine points - all coming in the second-half - converting 5-of-6 opportunities from the charity stripe.

The Seahawks were led by Chelsey Bunyer's 14 points and Ali Ridge's eight rebounds.

NEC ELITE: The Knights rank fifth in the conference averaging 64.0 points per game. Defensively, FDU leads the NEC in blocked shots with 4.77 per game and 12.62 spg.

Free throws have proven the squad's nemesis, as the Knights shoot 63.6 percent from the line.

DEFENDING THE PERIMETER: Northern Colorado jacked up 40 attempts from behind the arc in a 74-58 loss on Feb. 24. Meanwhile, Fairleigh Dickinson countered with a 34-18 scoring advantage in the paint.

The Bears came into the contest averaging more than 26 attempts from long-range, but a stalwart interior defense, coupled with a 12-point halftime lead, forced UNCO to rely on outside shots.

Factor in a 38-34 rebounding advantage and shooting 21-for-27 from the charity stripe, and Northern Colorado struggled to keep pace. The Knights' largest lead was 19 points, compared to UNCO's three-point lead at 14:25 in the first-half.

NON-CONFERENCE KNOCKOUT: With a win over visiting Northern Colorado on Feb. 24, the Knights posted their second-best out of conference win total (4) since the 1996-97 season.

Fairleigh Dickinson recorded five non-conference wins in the 2001-02 season, the most in the past ten years. The Knights boast victories over Columbia (84-70), Binghamton (74-65), Barry College (67-56) and Northern Colorado (74-58).

ONE-TWO PUNCH: Senior guard Krissy Suckow and sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling accounted for over half of Fairleigh Dickinson's points in a 61-57 victory over visiting Monmouth University on Feb. 22.

While the Hawks defended the perimeter where Suckow scored 21 points, nailing three treys, Walkling went to down inside, dropping in 6-of-9 field goals for 13 points. The duo poured in a combined 34 points.

EMBRACING A NEW ROLE: After starting the Knights' first 13 games, sophomore point guard Megan Kirkland has proven a difference maker coming off the bench. The 5-foot-6 ball handler had led FDU's bench scoring seven times in 12 games.

Next to senior guard Krissy Suckow (/Mt. St. Mary Academy)'s team-high 35 minutes, Kirkland guided the Knights offense for 32 minutes, dishing out five assists in a win over Monmouth on Feb. 22. The sophomore floor leader scored all of her eight points in the final 20 minutes, draining two three-pointers, one giving FDU its largest advantage of the night at 13 points.

Junior starting point guard Gayle Coats gives the Knights a hardnosed defensive solution for opposing scorers in the conference. Coats registered four assists and four steals in 14 minutes, with six minutes coming in tandem with Kirkland.

TRUMBULL TRIO: Playing a few miles from their hometown of Trumbull, CT, freshmen Ashley, Heather and Lauren Coombs teamed for nine minutes of floortime in an 84-44 loss to Sacred Heart University on Monday, Feb. 20.

Ashley, a guard, registered a career-high nine minutes, grabbing two rebounds, in addition to feeding her younger sisters for a bucket each. Heather, a forward, stepped into a pass on the right baseline, splashing home a jumper. Lauren, also a forward, drained a three-pointer from the left wing, with Ashley setting the screen to free an open look via a drop-off pass for her 5-foot-11 sister.

Lauren posted five points and two rebounds in a career-high 15 minutes, while Heather tallied six points and three boards.

10 SPOT: Freshman forward Katie Warehime scored 12 points in 17 minutes, dropping in 10-consecutive points during the second-half of a 77-76 loss to visiting Robert Morris on Feb. 18. The offensive outburt proved the third occasion this season that Warehime has notched a series of consecutive double-digit points.

Before exiting the contest after a bone-jarring collision, the 6-foot-1 forward was 5-for-5 from the field and 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

BOXING OUT: Sophomore forward Jennifer Walkling led the Knights in a 76-65 loss at Long Island on Feb. 13, posting her third double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds. The Knights' power forward dropped in 11 of the Knights' opening 15 points, on her way to 12 points and five rebounds in the first-half.

In just shy of one-in-four games this season, Walkling has ripped down double-digit figures in rebounds.

WHAT A WEEK: Senior guard Krissy Suckow (East Brunswick, NJ) was named the Choice Hotels NEC Player of the Week, announced by the league on Monday, Feb. 13.

Suckow averaged 24.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals in conference victories over Wagner (69-50) and Mount St. Mary's (66-61) last week. The senior guard shot .464 (13-for-28) from the floor, .615 (8-for-13) from three-point land and .789 (15-for-19) from the free throw line, helping the Knights post back-to-back wins for the first time since the 2003-04 season.

The 5-foot-8 scorer tallied 21 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals in the win over the Seahawks and then tied a career-high with 28 points in the victory over the Mount. She also connected on a season-high five treys, in addition to notching five rebounds, four steals and three assists against Mount St. Mary's.

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 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, and FDU season-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.

In a 66-61 win over visiting Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 11, Suckow again tallied 28 points.

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 in sixth-place on the Knights' career block list with 76. Walker also stands in second-place on the all-time single-season block list with 62.

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 2.3 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 64 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 75.9 percent shooter from the line - good for 6th 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.

OWNING 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 18 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 six outings this season.

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 4.1 rpg and an NEC-second-best 2.6 steals per contest.

Kirkland also averages 8.0 ppg. The 5-6 point guard is registering 27.7 minutes per game, dishing out 3.0 assists a night. She is shooting 42.2 percent from three-point land on 79 attempts.

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 46.7 shooting percentage (7-15) from behind the arc and is 13-for-34 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.

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."

Monmouth (2/22):

· "The win alleviates some pressure heading into the final NEC game of the season against Wagner," Coach Gordon said. "We played tight with the lead and hit our free throws down the stretch. We put together a big performance on defense tonight which resulted in a huge team win."

Northern Colorado (2/24):

· "Hitting our free throws was huge," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "The defense kept us going with some big stops, considering how often they shoot the three."

· "We had a great bench effort tonight, resulting in a balanced offense in the second-half," Gordon said. "Right now all wins are big. We'll look to build on the momentum of two-straight wins heading into our final home game."

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.

This offseason, Gela Mikalauskas returned the bench of Wagner College after previously coaching the Seahawks from 1979-90, guiding the program to a school record 174 wins in her 11 years at the helm. Along the way she compiled three 20 win seasons, including a school record 24 victories in the 1983-84 campaign when Wagner put together an unmatched 17-game winning streak.

During her prior Wagner coaching stint, Mikalauskas led the Seahawks to seven-straight league tournament berths, winning the 1989 Northeast Conference Tournament. She was inducted into the Wagner Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991.