Feb. 4, 2006

Box Score

HACKENSACK, NJ - 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 (5-14, 2-9 NEC) 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 (8-11, 6-4 NEC) 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.

"Today we beat ourselves," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "We're right there. It's another one where we came up short."

The Knights travel to Wagner College at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7.