The Fairleigh Dickinson University women's basketball team lost, 60-47, at Long Island University, Saturday, Jan. 20 in Brooklyn, NY. Junior forward Jennifer Walkling (Westminster, MD/Westminster) (Westminster, MD) registered her eighth double-double of the season ? and second of the week ? with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds as the Knights slipped to 6-11 overall and 3-4 in the Northeast Conference.
Walkling gave FDU their first lead of the afternoon, 6-4, with a lay-in via a pump-fake on the right block. Freshman forward Christy Altamirano (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) (Bayonne, NJ) extended the margin to two possessions with a baseline jumper at the 16:57 mark.
Slightly more than two minutes later, the Knights worked the ball inside, then out, eventually hitting junior guard Shanay Freeman (Laurelton, NY/Towsend Harris) (Laurelton, NY) on the right wing, who canned a 12-footer to hold the lead, 12-7.
LIU (14-5, 7-1 NEC) guard Mikaelar Whippy (Suva, Fiji) scored five-straight points to regain a third lead of the initial 20 minutes with 9:21 remaining. Guard Valerie Nainima (Suva, Fiji) dropped in back-to-back buckets, extending the Blackbirds' lead, 22-16, at the 6:57 mark. The duo would ultimately combine for 12-consecutive points.
Freshman guard Jordan Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Holy Spirit) (Avalon, NJ) closed the gap to 25-21 with 1:42 left, nailing a fade-away three-ball as the shot clock expired.
Whippy had 10 at the break, while Nainima added nine, and Long Island held a 27-21 advantage at the break. Sykes countered with seven, with Walkling chipping in six.
The Knights came out and closed the gap to four before an eight-point run opened up a 39-27 lead for the home-standing squad. Senior guard Gayle Coats (Richmond, VA/Gertrude) (Richmond, VA) halted the run with a backdoor lay-up at the 13:14 mark.
Walkling cashed in on a three-point play opportunity ? marking her fifth-straight point ? creating a 48-37 game with 5:35 remaining. Sykes (11 points) then connected on a one-handed teardrop from the left baseline.
Sophomore forward Katie Warehime (Littlestown, PA/Littlestown) (Littlestown, PA) led all bench scorers with six points.
"They play really good defense, but we missed a bunch of easy ones," Head Coach Sandy Gordon said. "I felt we were out-rebounded more than the box score indicates. Their offensive boards really hurt us."
Whippy led all scorers with 17 points, while Nainima posted 16.
The Knights travel to Central Connecticut State University at 7:00 p.m., Monday, Jan. 22.
